BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Music Center will hold a daylong marathon of student performances on Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden on Main Street.
Student ensembles, individual players, orchestras and traditional music students will perform everything from Mozart and Beethoven to Gershwin and more during the BMC's annual “Performathon.” The public is invited to enjoy the music, and shop for robust bedding plants for their garden, hanging baskets for the porch, baked goods, and take a chance on winning manyitems to be raffled off during the day.
Students have been busy for weeks raising pledges to support the Music School Student Scholarship Fund. Each year, the Music School awards over $23,000 in aid to families who need assistance paying for lessons, classes, ensembles and summer programs. The funds raised during Performathon are critical as the BMC struggles to meet requests for aid.
Lunch will be available from noon until 2 p.m. During this time, the Prima String Orchestra, made up of 12, 8- to 10-year-olds, will play an arrangement of Rossini's William Tell Overture. Director Lisa Ferrigno guarantees a rousing rendition.
Later in the afternoon, advanced voice students will sing duets, Broadway show tunes and jazz standards. Voice coach Kristen Carmichael-Bowers says the repertoire is witty, touching, funny and thoroughly entertaining.
Educational Programs Artistic Director Raquel Moreno has worked with the BMC's young artists and faculty members to form chamber ensembles during the spring semester that will be performed throughout the day. Ensemble work helps students improve their musical skills and adds opportunities to make new friends.
Moreno's piano student Rayna Aleshnick, 15, said, “It's been great fun and a great challenge for me to accompany Fiona Sullivan, cello player, for this concert. I learned it's much harder than it seems. I had to move out of my own zone and really listen and pay attention to what Fiona was playing.”
The Music School cordially invites the public to come out and enjoy these young musicians' accomplishments. The Performathon is presented in one-hour segments making it easy for audience members to come and go throughout the day.
The event is free of charge. Donations can be made at the event or on-line at www.bmcvt.org/performathon.