This year's Practice-A-Thon is off to a great start. The Practice-A-Thon is our month-long Spring fundraiser. Participants raise money and awareness for Keys 2 Success Participants by creating individualized fundraising pages and sending in a recording of themselves playing their instrument. The recordings are then shared in an online closing ceremony.
This year in New Providence, New Jersey, the hometown of our founder, the Practice-A-Thon, took on a new dimension. On Sunday, April 3rd, the New Providence United Methodist Church hosted a live performance for local musicians to participate in the event. Working behind the scenes with members of the Junior League of Summit, members of the church helped Keys 2 Success staff and volunteers organize every detail of the day. This event brought together over 100 students, parents, and supporters from Newark, New Providence, and many surrounding suburbs.
Thirty-three New Providence High School choir members, led by Susan Kirkland, opened the concert with an upbeat rendition of “I sing because I’m happy.” They were followed by 8-year old Avery Gill from New Providence playing “This Little Light of Mine” on the piano. Next, Roberta Maher, a retired music teacher of 31 years, performed Debussy’s Clair de Lune on the flute and confessed that she was feeling “a little nervous” to be playing in front of such a large crowd. Next, Maggie Darquea Guerrero played the guitar and sang one of her own compositions entitled “Recuerdos.” Next came 102-year old Leonard Blessing, who delighted the audience with stories from his life and a very musical playing of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Next, 11-year old Thaila Freitas from Newark followed with a fun piece called “Avalanche.” Finally, the Keys 2 Success ensemble, composed of 12 students who spanned a range of ages and musical experiences, performed an arrangement of “Montgomery Variations” by Margaret Bonds, an African-American composer. The concert ended with the entire audience joining all the performers in singing the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Every and Sing.”
“It was good to see people of all ages, Black and White, mixing and having a great time,” said Leonard. Indeed, it was a great day for making new friends and making a difference.
Recordings from Practice-A-Thon participants, including those from this event, will be shared in May. So stay tuned for the details!
