WESTBROOK, Maine, June 14, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Mugadi Foundation, in association with Waynflete School, is proud to announce a Michael O. (Michael Odokara-Okigbo) benefit concert event \u201cON MY OWN\u201d to take place July 13, 2017 at the beautiful\u00a0Westbrook Performing Arts Center in Westbrook, Maine.<\/p>\n
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\nThe 6 p.m. concert will serve as a fundraiser for the Mugadi Foundation, with shared proceeds\u00a0going to support a financial scholarship fund in Michael\u2019s name at Waynflete School, specifically in support of tuition for students from resettled refugee families.<\/p>\n
The concert will also serve as a preview for Michael’s new music, which is being released all throughout 2017. Tickets for the fundraising event are $25 and all of the proceeds will benefit the two programs.<\/p>\n
Well known and respected Portland radio personality Lori Voornas from Q97.9 will emcee the event, which will also feature an opening set of music from popular local jazz\/funk trio Micromasse.<\/p>\n
EVENT TICKETS:<\/strong> About The Mugadi Foundation:<\/strong> Odokara-Okigbo was shocked with how much trouble they had finding for education, but most interestingly to him, he was surprised to see how similar these children were to him. When he returned, he decided to make a difference in those children\u2019s lives, he created a photo exhibition of fourteen stories, and showed it in hospitals, schools and museums. It was a huge success, and prompted him to create the Mugadi Foundation.<\/p>\n Learn more at: http:\/\/themugadifoundation.org\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheMugadiFoundation\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n About Waynflete School:<\/strong> The school aims to provide a program that combines security with challenge, playful exploration with rigorous expectation and range of\u00a0experience with depth of inquiry.\u00a0Waynflete believes diversity is a condition of excellence and several years ago made a commitment to enroll as many students from Portland\u2019s resettled refugee community as possible. Michael joined the Waynflete community in 2002 and graduated in 2008.<\/p>\n About Michael O:<\/strong> In 2008, Michael was accepted to Dartmouth College, where he double majored in Global Health and History. He led The Dartmouth Aires to a second place finish on NBC\u2019s \u201cThe Sing Off.\u201d With over 6.5 million viewers weekly, Michael wowed audiences and was even dubbed \u201cincredible\u201d and \u201ctimeless\u201d by Ben Folds of Ben Folds Five, and \u201ca freaking superstar\u201d by Boyz II Men\u2019s Shawn Stockman. After graduation, Michael moved to Los Angeles and released his first EP, \u201cIn the Beginning,\u201d in 2013. Within 24 hours of its official release, \u201cIn the Beginning\u201d jumped to the top 5 on the iTunes R&B charts, and was the best-selling EP in Northern New England for 2013.<\/p>\n In 2015, Michael O. appeared in the major motion picture, \u201cPitch Perfect 2,\u201d as the lead singer of the\u00a0singing group in the film, The Singboks, soloing on the song \u201cAnyway You Want It\u201d that was featured on the soundtrack, which won an American Music Award for best soundtrack.\u00a0Both the film and soundtrack were #1 in May of 2015. Michael has performed all over the world, including appearances at Merrill Auditorium, The Lincoln Center, and in 2014, at the White House\u00a0singing for President Obama. Michael O. is an international performing and singing star. A power house performer in his right, Michael O. aims to expand his reach, both in content and in form, creating a unique entertainment experience that brings people together through the power of his music and entertainment. Michael\u2019s canvas is a stage, and he aims to paint the image that, \u201cas people, we are more alike than we are different.\u201d<\/p>\n Beginning in May 2017, Michael will be releasing new singles from his CD \u201cON MY OWN\u201d and performing nationwide and international locales.<\/p>\n Learn more about Michael O at: http:\/\/www.themichaelo.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nTickets to this exciting performance will be available on Brown Paper Tickets for $25 beginning June 15, 2017 at: http:\/\/michaelo.brownpapertickets.com<\/a> or 1-800-838-3006<\/p>\n
\nThe mission of The Mugadi Foundation is to help children and young adults around the world, particularly in the Global South.\u00a0The Mugadi Foundation was founded by Michael Odokara-Okigbo when he was 14. Mugadi (which means \u201cI will live\u201d in the Igbo language) is a\u00a0501(c)(3)\u00a0organization\u00a0created in 2004 to help pay for the school fees granted to orphanages located in Lagos, Nigeria. The foundation was established due to a trip he made with his mother to an HIV\/AIDS orphanage in November, 2004.<\/p>\n
\nWaynflete is an independent, co-educational day school in Portland, Maine, serving students from preschool through grade 12. The Waynflete mission is to\u00a0engage the imagination and intellect of our students, to guide them toward self-governance and self-knowledge, and to encourage their responsible and caring participation in the world.<\/p>\n
\nMichael O. (Michael Odokara-Okigbo)\u00a0is a singer, songwriter, performer and producer who\u00a0harnesses his personal and cultural influences to create a powerful sound all his own. Born in 1990 and raised in Portland, Maine, Michael\u2019s upbringing fused with his international exposures, as an American, African American, and African culture to create the multi-faceted artist he is today.<\/p>\n