Libertyville Resident Helps Mom by Playing at a Benefit Concert

The guitar was just sitting there collecting dust.

The longer Libertyville resident Andrew Halvorson looked at the electric guitar that belonged to his older brother, Matthew, the more he wanted to put it to use.

"I decided I wanted to learn how to play. It looked like fun," Andrew said.

Three years later, Andrew's family connection to music has gone a step further. The freshman will play backup guitar tonight (Friday, April 8) in a benefit concert spurred by an idea from his sister, Kristen, and organized by his mom, Lori Halvorson, and John Koziel, whose band, "Johnny K & Tempest Rising," headlines the from 7-9 p.m. at the in Lake Forest.

Tickets are $15 at the door. Proceeds will go toward purchasing hearing aids for residents of Lambs Farm in Libertyville. Lori, who works for  in Lake Forest, has provided hearing aids to a resident at Lambs Farm donated by the manufacturer.

"My daughter was concerned about other residents who needed them, so she came up with the idea to raise money to help more residents," Lori said of Kristen, who is a junior at in Lake Forest.

Not to be left out, Matthew designed the poster and tickert cover for the concert.

Andrew has performed in front of audiences over the last couple of years, including about 50 people at his mom's birthday party at . Tonight might be the biggest crowd.

"I'm a little bit nervous when I get up there, but I've gotten used to it," he said. "Definitely not as much as two years ago. I've gotten more confident."

He will not be sporting Matthew's electric guitar. Andrew has graduated to an acoustic ovation guitar that he describes as having a "more full sound, clean and no distortion."

Andrew has no dreams of turning his musical interest into a career. In fact, he's leaning toward economics and business. At Lake Forest Academy, he has assisted in teaching a beginner guitar class.

"I'm glad to be able to help my Mom with this concert to help others with my guitar," he said.