Mini maestros put on inspired performances at the Third Street Music School Settlement last Sunday afternoon to raise funds for a Sri Lankan school devastated in December’s tsunami. Called Hearts for Arts, the benefit saw more than 100 young students — 4 to 18 years old, beginner to advanced — perform and 300 people attend the six-hour event at the 235 E. 11th St. school.
There was also a bake sale, silent auction and raffle. Musical offerings ranged from folk and rock to classical. Nine-year-old Eliza Callahan strummed Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” on electric guitar, adding a tsunami-related lyric to the latter: “Mama help me understand/Is this part of a bigger plan?/So much love was washed away/I wish I didn’t have to say/Knock-knock-knockin’ on heaven’s door….” Another highlight was siblings Christine and James Pang, on violin and piano, respectively, performing Fritz Kreisler’s “Praeludium & Allegro.” Sunday’s event was free but donations were accepted for the tsunami relief fund.
The students tried to raise $50 each and the school hopes to raise at least $25,000. The concert brought the fundraising at least past the halfway mark, said Karen Haight of the school’s development department. The Anuladevi Girls School in Galle, Sri Lanka, which has a large music program, is less than 300 meters from the ocean, and suffered great physical damage and loss of thousands of dollars worth of equipment in the disaster. Founded in 1894, the East Village school — at which three-quarters of the students get tuition assistance or subsidies — is also creating a pen-pal society with the Sri Lankan school.
Third Street will continue fundraising and donations are welcome. Make checks out to Third Street Tsunami Relief Fund and send to Third Street Music School, 235 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003. Or call 212-777-3240 ext. 0.
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