Drummer for Mannheim Steamroller and Dennis DeYoung to play benefit concert in Lisle

For years, Tom Sharpe has been playing drums and touring with the Grammy Award winning group
Mannheim Steamroller,
the number one selling Christmas tour, and with Dennis DeYoung,
the legendary singer/songwriter from the famed rock group STYX. But on October 20 he will
be in Lisle playing with his own group to give back to charity.

Sharpe will play a benefit concert to support Chicago Family Directions, a

non-profit organization that tutors reading to homeless and impoverished elementary
students in the Chicago area.

Buy your tickets today.

Along with his heavy tour schedule, Sharpe is an internationally recognized, critically acclaimed composer, and the creator of his own world music ensemble, Sharpe World Music. His own compositions have won many awards, including the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the Broadjam World Music Contest.

Sharpe’s original music is a percussive symphony - a sonic and visual feast for
the senses. A classically trained musician, Sharpe has dramatically blended his
orchestral background with world music instrumentation and cinematic imagery to
create an experience that invites the listener into the heart of the musical
moment. Seamlessly blending genres from Middle Eastern,
African, orchestral, and rock music, he moves between traditional

instrumentation and electronics with ease and precision. Sharpe is alumni of

the Interlochen Arts Academy and holds his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees
from DePaul University.


Chicago Family Directions (CFD) is a non-profit 501(c)3
charity providing consistent, long-term literacy tutoring to elementary
students in the Greater Chicagoland area living in temporary living situations
as well as students whose families live near the poverty line. CFD’s goal is to
prepare the students for college, careers and an adult life without
homelessness.

Tom Sharpe will play a benefit concert at 3:30 p.m., Sunday,
October 20, at Grounds for Hope Café, 2701 Maple Ave., Lisle, IL. 60532.
Tickets can be purchased by going to the News/Events tab on
ChicagoFamilyDirections.org or at the event. Adults/$30, Students/$15, children
under 10 free with a paying adult. Tickets includes one free beverage. Cash bar
available and light refreshments will be served.