SHS grad to sing to help the homeless

Alana Lukens, graduate of the class of 2018, has been busy in the summer leading up to her first year of college. Lukens, 18, decided to put on a fundraiser for the homeless community of Bend. Lukens approached the Backdoor Café as well as leaders at the Bend United Methodist Church to put on a fundraiser to raise money for the homeless community to have resources made available to them.

"I had the idea to do a concert at the location, and thought it would be cool to make it into a fundraiser for the community," said Lukens.

Lukens has been singing since she was three years old and playing piano since age seven.

"I played and sang at any place I could when I was young, I just knew I loved to perform, loved learning about the voice as an instrument," she said.

Throughout her middle school and high school years, Lukens was heavily involved in the Youth Choir of Central Oregon and sang at Carnegie Hall and in Chicago with the group. She was also heavily involved with the Sisters choirs leading up to her senior year of high school.

"I would've never learned all that I have if it wasn't for my journey with the choir. I felt as if I grew in every area on the long journey I took in the choir," she said.

Lukens was in the Sisters High School Jazz Choir for four years and starred in two high school musicals, including most recently as Cinderella in last year's musical. Lukens has also started writing original songs and submitting them to choir festivals throughout Oregon. She was awarded by one Songwriter of the Year, and her song was used as the song students learned and performed at a camp in Eugene.

"Having those opportunities really motivated me to keep on writing my own songs to be performed," she said.

Lukens is now in contact with a man who has asked her to write original songs for TV.

"He sells songs to TV shows, and has asked me to write some of the songs he uses," she said.

Lukens plans on continuing writing through school.

Lukens will be attending University of Chester in England as part of their three-year bachelor's degree program. She will be seeking a degree in social work.

"I want to eventually be head of a nonprofit as well as work with getting children out of abusive situations," she said.

Lukens plans on joining the choir at university and plans on continuing to have performing as an avocation.

"It's something I love so much and will keep as a hobby throughout pursuing my degree," she said.

One of the reasons Lukens came up with the idea of doing a concert fundraiser was to combine her social work interests and her musical interests into something that benefits people in her community.

"I love volunteer work and thought this would be a good way to intertwine two things I love very much," she said. "I really want to inspire young people to go out there and make things happen if they want to. I'm creating an opportunity for myself, while also benefitting others. I think that's a way we can solve a lot of the worlds' problems, go out and make a path for yourself while also benefitting others."

The fundraiser, titled "Looking Forward," will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. on August 26 at Bend Methodist Church, 680 NW Bond St., in Bend. Cellist Amy Wheeler will also perform. Lukens will be performing featured songs from "The Greatest Showman," "Phantom of the Opera" and Disney's "Moana" along with a number of other musical arrangements. All songs are family-friendly and everyone is welcome.

A $5 donation is suggested but anyone is welcome for free. All proceeds benefit the Backdoor Café which serves breakfast, provides medical care, and social work resources to those in need from 7 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays. For more information on the Backdoor Café and "Looking Forward" call Bend Methodist Church at 541-382-1672.