Ching Hai, center, presents donations at the "One World" event, with Debbie Reynolds, left, John Moschitta, Marc Cohen and Mike Driebe.

 

Debbie Reynolds and John Moschitta, former "fastest talker" record holder, hosted the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Assn.'s "One World ... of Peace Through Music" benefit concert Dec. 18. About 6,000 people attended the event at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, which featured the Beach Boys Family & Friends (led by original Beach Boy Al Jardine, accompanied by his sons, Matt and Adam; Wendy and Carnie Wilson, daughters of Brian Wilson; and Owen Elliot, daughter of the late Mama Cass Elliot). Composers-conductors Bill Conti and Fred Karlin, and Gaelic Storm, the Irish band from "Titanic," also performed. Composer Maria Newman presented a piece conducted by George Thatcher, featuring soprano Anne Marie Ketchum, and Kerry Walsh sang a song composed and conducted by Peter Boyer; these compositions were musical adaptations of the poetry of Ching Hai, the supreme master of the humanitarian organization. Ching Hai, a poet and religion and meditation teacher, donated $250,000, which will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Starlight Children's Foundation.