It has been a remarkable journey, both professionally and spiritually, for the musicians of Gaudeamus. Established in 1997 by Constance Cannon, Gaudeamus is a Christian faith-based ensemble of professional musicians with a passion for sharing their God given talents through concerts and recordings to help those in need.
In 1990, the ensemble first performed what has evovled into an annual Christmas concert at Epiphany of Our Lord (Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania). The growing popularity of this venue inspired the group to expand its seasonal concert schedule to year-round at churches of various denominations through out the Philadelphia area. Today, Gaudeamus performances attract audiences in excess of 5,000 people annually and the group's six CDs have sold more than 15,000 copies.
Motivated by gospel values, the Gaudeamus mission is to inspire its audiences through music to contribute philanthropic support and to encourage other forms of community outreach. The group has raised more than $350,000 through free-will concert donations, CD sales and private contributions. Directing these funds to organizations supporting education and children's medical research has been an edifying experience for the musicians, its volunteers and the Gaudeamus board of directors.
Gaudeamus has had the unique experience of interacting with the executive directors and boards of large, charitable organizations as well as those who operate small, grass roots, not-for-profits. The musicians' association with Deborah Hospital Foundation introduced them to children from Tanzania undergoing life-saving heart surgery, while The Wellness Place engaged them with children battling cancer. Additionally, HIV-virus infected children have written to express thanks for financial assistance, while Gaudeamus sponsored scholarships have benefited bright young, dedicated students.
The common link among all these experiences is the music of Gaudeamus and the resulting charitable outreach. The musician's goal is simply to reach as many people as possible, using their performances as an occasion to generate financial support and spiritual assistance. Whether Gaudeamus performs for a small audience of cancer patients or a filled church, their mission remains steadfast.
Gaudeamus is led by Constance Cannon, who serves as Executive and Musical Director and pianist. An active committed volunteer staff and an engaged, professional board of directors support her. Gaudeamus is a private not-for-profit corporation exempt from federal taxes under the Internal Revenue Code Section IRS 501 (c) (3).
Gaudeamus is Latin for "let us rejoice". And the musicians do...... both in their gifts from God and the opportunity to serve. Gaudeamus plans to continue its ministry of touching lives through music and to travel this remarkable road of sharing their time, talent and treasure.
