Concert benefits transplant agency

Felicia Brantley Stanford saw the support from her former community last year when a concert was held in her honor.

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This year, she wants to give back to those in need in the Augusta area by holding the second annual benefit concert, with its proceeds aiding the Georgia Transplant Foundation.

"To me, it's not even a question of whether or not I should," Stanford said. "It's just something that needs to happen. It was done for me, so I need to do it for other people."

Stanford, who now lives in Auburn, Ga., was diagnosed with hepatitis C about three years ago, and doctors told her she would eventually need to undergo a liver transplant.

On Friday, cellist and composer Paul Brantley, who is Stanford's brother, and pianist Steve Beck will perform classical music at Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center.

The concert will take place from 7:30-9 p.m. and will feature pieces from Mozart, Debussy, Prokofiev, Ravel and Stravinsky, in addition to some of Brantley's own compositions.

"It's a really beautiful program," Brantley said. "It's very varied and very audience-engaging."

Brantley teaches at the Manhattan School of Music and freelances as a composer and cellist in New York City.

Stanford and her family hope to continue organizing benefit concerts.

"We want to raise a lot of money," Brantley said, "and I think more than anything, we want to just keep this going."

In addition to raising funds for the Georgia Transplant Foundation, Stanford said, she wants to educate others about hepatitis C.

Last year's concert featured country singer Ronnie Milsap and was a huge success, Stanford said. Next year, she said, she has plans to hold an outdoor acoustic festival.

Tickets for the concert can be bought for $40 at www.tixonline.com or for $45 at the door.

"It's a really wonderful thing to be a performing musician, and it's very gratifying," Brantley said. "But when it's for something like this, in particular, it's especially gratifying, because it has that extra dimension to it."

To learn how to donate to the Georgia Transplant Foundation, visit www.gatransplant.org, and for information about the concert, e-mail Stanford at abenefitconcert@aol.com or visit www.myspace.com/abenefitconcert.