Young musicians from the City performed a free concert for the Burbank community at Summer Music Soiree 2 on Monday evening, September 12. Children from Providencia Elementary’s string program and local Burbank teens performed to a standing room only audience of more than 100 people at Olive Plaza.
Organized by sisters Eyén Paredes and Maya Paredes, the second annual event raised more than $1000 in donations for Education Through Music – Los Angeles (ETM-LA)’s programs in disadvantaged schools.
“We are so grateful to these young artists who volunteer their time to help keep music in our schools,” said ETM-LA Executive Director Victoria Lanier. “It’s inspiring to see teenagers like Maya and Eyén take the initiative to give back to their community and to be a role models for other children.”
Fifth grade students from Providencia Elementary, who participate in the string orchestra program provided by ETM-LA, opened the program with a selection of folk songs conducted by instructor Jonathan Long.
Bethany Daez, Haya Farooq, Jimena Menedez. Justin Brauer, Kayla Archuleta, Lexi Brauer, Maya Whitton, Mia Tejeda, Samantha Cole and Yanuel Rosario from Providencia all demonstrated their growth on the violin, after picking up the instrument just one year ago.
Providencia Principal Jen Culbertson talked about the positive impact music education has on growing children and discussed the programs ETM-LA provides at the school. Lanier explained the mission of the nonprofit, which has grown to serve more than 12,000 children at 25 schools in Los Angeles County.
ETM-LA provides music teachers and programs to supplement Burbank Unified music programs at Providencia Elementary, McKinley Elementary and Washington Elementary.
Evan Lanier and Ella Jennings from Burbank also performed on violin, along with Cayla Mendoza from West Los Angeles.
City of Burbank Councilmember Bob Frutos attended the concert and volunteers from Apple helped out with the event.
The inaugural Summer Music Soiree in 2015 boasted a special guest performance by Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Concertmaster Martin Chalifour.
Summer Music Soiree 2 featured Trio Épicé from The Colburn School.
Comprised of pianist Maya Paredes, violinist Jessica Park and cellist Claire Park, the chamber music ensemble closed out the concert with an impassioned performance of the first movement of Maurice Ravel’s Trio in a minor.
