The strong beat of drums and a poignant voice rumbled through the open doors of Hillvue Heights Church on Saturday night as members of the band Micah rehearsed a new song.

The local band was rehearsing for the second annual “Raise the Roof” concert.

The band is made up of lead singer Jacquelyn Wallace, lead guitarist Joe Tichenor, bassist Garrett Cline and drummer Darrick Cline.

Tichenor and Garrett Cline are both Western students.

The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 at Hillvue Heights Church, 3219 Nashville Road. Admission is $5. All proceeds will be donated to the Down Syndrome Support Group of South Central Kentucky.

The band had the idea for the benefit concert last year. Micah is close to the cause in part because Kate Tichenor, Joe Tichenor’s sister, has Down syndrome.

The money raised from the concert will go toward running a lifelong learning and activity center for people with Down syndrome called a “Buddy House.”

The Buddy House will be a place where people with Down syndrome and their family and friends can visit to have support and education. It will be a place with pre-school and after school activities, as well as extended education opportunities, life skills training and job coaching, said Jane Tichenor, a member of the board of directors for the support group.

“We like to see all of our children reach their potential and contribute to the community,” she said.

Jane Tichenor said the support group wants to raise $50,000 to create a Buddy House. It could be two to three years before a Buddy House opens.

Last year’s concert raised about $1,500 for the organization, Joe Tichenor said.

“It’s a place where kids with Down syndrome and their families can come network and further their learning,” he said. “It’s a social place but also a learning environment.”

Joe Tichenor said the group hopes to build a house with all the functions that it needs, but its goal right now is to look for a property to lease or building to start in.

The Raise the Roof concert will offer rock, blues and R&B with performances from Bobby Baldwin and Wigglestik, Hat Trick featuring Tyrone Dunn and Micah. The BG Rockerz will also perform.

The BG Rockerz is a group of people who have Down syndrome that perform dances together, Wallace said.

The band agreed that the reason for the concert is to raise awareness of people with Down syndrome and their need for a Buddy House.

“This is definitely not about us — we will be the least important thing there that night,” Grant Cline said.