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NEW ORLEANS — East St. John alumni Bryce Carter and Noah Williams are among the musicians performing tonight at the 12^th annual NOVA Lights of Hope, a live event focusing on the celebration of life and love through music and art.

Dedicated to honoring those touched by cancer and remembering those lost, this free-entry event invites audiences to donate to the American Cancer Society.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. today, May 19, at the Senator Hickey Ballroom, located at 2000 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans. The musical lineup is as follows:

• FIFTHMXNTH – 7:10 p.m.
• NADIR – 7:30 p.m.
• YASZMINE THE SUN QUEEN – 8 p.m.
• JAYYY3X – 8:20 p.m.
• CALLY CAL – 8:40 p.m.

Bryce Carter and Noah Williams, who graduated from East St. John High School in 2018 and 2019, respectively, have strived to bring exposure to undiscovered artists at the University of New Orleans.

In early 2020, Carter and Williams helped establish a show called “OPUS” to give a voice to student artists on campus. The COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world less than a month later, limiting opportunities for gatherings and live musical performances in the city of New Orleans.

Most of the original group that founded OPUS is still intact two years later, and the young musicians look forward to lending their musical talents for a good cause.

Carter performs under the stage name FIFTHMXNTH, while Williams performs under the name NADIR.

“It’s for a good cause, and it’s a great time to network with new people. People can come out and enjoy some free music and food,” Williams said. “We are trying to branch out from the university and venture into the city so we can find more artists and showcase their talents. Over the past two years I’ve been honing my craft and focusing on building something special.”

While admission and refreshments are free, attendees will be asked before and during the event if they would like to donate to Lights of Hope using the following link: action.fightcancer.org/goto/novalightsofhope.

Attendees who submit donations will receive a bag to decorate at the event. These bags will be sent to Washington DC for an American Cancer Society ceremony in September 2022.

Yolanda Fleming Williams is proud to see her son and his fellow student artists use their talents to help others.

“I’m so excited for these young people coming together to help out with the Amercian Cancer Society. So many of our local individuals and families are dealing with cancer. It’s such a positive move for these young folks to come together and help with getting donations so we can continue to search for a cure,” she said.