PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend High School music program will host a free benefit concert tonight.
Music program students are seeking donations to help fund a trip to Los Angeles in the spring.
The concert will be at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Townsend at 1111 Franklin St.
The concert will feature the Port Townsend High School (PTHS) Chamber Ensemble and the Ladies’ Chamber Orchestra and Benevolent Society.
They will be joined by special guest artist Gwen Franz (viola), Marina Rosenquist (violin) and Lisa Lanza (piano), said Daniel Ferland, PTHS music director.
Music will range from the works of Mozart, Shumann, Teleman to such modern composers as Stefani Germanotta (Lady GaGa) and Rhiannon Giddens of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ferland said.
High school students are conducting fundraisers to bring in $25,000 to help with the cost of a five-day trip to have a professional recording session with Capitol Records, tour the University of Southern California (USC) School of Music, watch the Los Angeles Symphony and possibly practice with another high school. The “Ladies’ Chamber Orchestra and Benevolent Society” is an ensemble of strings, recorders and keyboards.
It was formed by Dahti Blanchard in 2016 to showcase the talent and expertise of musicians in Port Townsend and vicinity.
The PTHS Chamber Ensemble is made up of 16 orchestra students in ninth through 12th grades.
The auditioned group focuses on works from the Baroque period to the 20th century. This ensemble recently received a personal coaching session from Kronos Quartet founder David Harrington.
Harrington was in Port Townsend last week to perform with the Kronos Quartet at the Wheeler Theater as part of the Centrum Chamber series.
“This was such a valuable experience for the students,” Ferland said. “They gained so much knowledge in such a short amount of time with David. I know they really enjoyed the opportunity.”
For more information or to donate online, go to www.PTHSMusic.com.
______
Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
