Bach Parley "String Academy Spotlight" Benefit Concert

It’s springtime for the Bach Parley! Members of the Bach Parley String Academy will perform in the “String Academy Spotlight” benefit concert, with all donations going toward Bach Parley String Academy need-based student scholarships. The String Academy faculty will perform selections from Mozart’s Quintet in G minor. The Cadre String Quartet, made up of high school students and coached by faculty member Megan Sahely, will perform Beethoven and Dave Brubeck. To finish the concert, Valerie Arsenault and her long-time student Andy Shen will perform the complete Bach “Double” violin concerto, including the poignant and familiar slow movement.

“We are expanding our repertoire to Mozart, Beethoven, “Take 5” by Dave Brubeck, and of course, Bach,” explains Bach Parley President and Music Director Dr. Valerie Arsenault. “We are thrilled to have String Academy students and faculty join together in this performance – it gives the students a chance to shine. In this concert both Andy Shen and I will speak to the audience with suggestions about what to listen for in the music and tidbits about why we love the pieces we will play.”

The Bach Parley String Academy is celebrating their third year in partnership with Saint John’s Episcopal Church, where over 80 violin, viola, and cello students take weekly lessons and participate in community outreach events. The non-profit music school began in the fall of 2015 and over 15 percent of the students now receive need-based scholarship assistance. The mission of the Bach Parley String Academy is to cultivate in Tallahassee’s young people an appreciation of and achievement in music, nurture positive character development, and bridge cultural divisions through the common language of music. By providing access to high quality music instruction in a central downtown location, and by raising funds for need-based scholarships, the String Academy strengthens existing public school and community string programs throughout the Big Bend region.

A $10 donation is suggested at the door, and donations will go to the Bach Parley String Academy’s need-based scholarship fund for students who would not otherwise be able to afford private music lessons. Free childcare will be available.

At all Sunday Tallahassee Bach Parley concerts this season, patrons will receive an insert in their programs with a discount coupon to use after the concert at participating downtown area restaurants.

After the String Academy Spotlight on April 8, the final Bach Parley concert of the season will be on June 3, will feature the Bach Parley Chamber Singers, as well as the annual membership reception.

For additional information about the Tallahassee Bach Parley and the Bach Parley String Academy music school, visit www.bachparley.org.