Hundreds of local families will gather to sing, dance and play at two concerts on March 2 and 3 for young children in honor of Music Together's 25th anniversary of the early childhood music program and to raise money for the Long Beach School District, which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
The concerts will be hosted by a group of Music Together directors from centers throughout Long Island and Queens.
On March 2, the concert will be held from 3–5 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall in Patchogue (38 West First St.). The concert on March 3 will take place in Rockville Centre at Central Synagogue of Nassau County (430 DeMott Ave.) from 2-4 p.m.
At each location, the one-hour concert begins 30 minutes after doors open. Tickets for each show are $13/adult and $8/child over 8 months of age (children under 8 months are free) and may be purchased online at www.musictogetherliq.ticketleap.com.
The concerts will feature teachers from several Music Together centers in Long Island and Queens singing favorite Music Together songs, as well as a special guest appearance by recording artist Gerry Dignan. “Uncle Gerry” is featured on the CDs given to the hundreds of thousands of families worldwide who take Music Together classes each year.
“We are so excited to have Uncle Gerry here with us on Long Island. All our families are very excited to finally meet the person behind his unmistakable voice," said event co-coordinator Judy Leff, owner of While They’re Little, one of several Music Together centers sponsoring the event. "We are looking forward to singing with him and hope that lots of families, whether they’ve taken Music Together classes or not, will join us to help raise funds for the youngest victims of Superstorm Sandy."
In addition to celebrating Music Together’s longevity as an early childhood music education program, the event is also a fundraiser for the Long Beach School District. Local businesses from all over Long Island (including Safari Adventure, iSchool of Music & Art and Minuteman Press in Rockville Centre) have donated products and goods for a raffle contest that will take place during the show.
All proceeds from ticket sales and the raffles will be donated to the district and earmarked for West Elementary School’s Art & Music Department. West Elementary School has not reopened since the storm,and the Long Beach School District is looking at recovery and repair costs estimated at around $20 million.
"Music Together is all about improving the lives of children, and all of the directors decided that, as part of our anniversary celebration, we would like to do our part to help families in need right here in Long Island," Leff said. "We hope to raise money that will ensure children in the Long Beach area have access to arts programs for many years to come."
