Young musicians plan Jan. 15 event in Montgomery.
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
MONTGOMERY Some people might simply write a check, others would plan a bake sale. Not Kevin Chen.
He plans to play the piano to assist victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami.
Kevin, a Montgomery High School senior, is assisting in the organization of the Montgomery Area Tsunami Aid Concert Recital. During the show, Kevin plans to perform on the piano, one of the two instruments he plays the other being the electric guitar.
The recital, to be held at the Montgomery Center for the Arts 1 p.m. Jan. 15, will feature young musicians of various talent levels performing to collect funds for the disaster relief. The funds will be presented to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.
The effort is a collaboration with Young Musicians for Volunteer Action, of which Kevin is one of eight co-founders, and Parents of Young Musicians Association.
"We’re just trying to put together a group of (young musicians) and teach them how to use the skills they have to benefit the community," said Kevin.
Planning for the tsunami aid concert, said Kevin, "was put together pretty quickly. Before Dec. 26, we had no idea we were going to be doing this."
Bob Witanek of the Parents of Young Musicians Association said he contacted Kevin to suggest the idea of a fund-raiser to assist disaster victims.
"When I called Kevin, he stated that his group had been talking about putting an event of this sort together already," Mr. Witanek said.
The young musicians group of which Kevin is a member was first formed to raise funds following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Working together with Parents of Young Musicians Association, the volunteer action group took on a similar effort then.
Mr. Witanek said all ages and levels are welcome to offer their talents to the cause.
Organizers ask those who plan to attend, who have the financial means, to bring cash or a check payable to the American Red Cross.
Other organizations sponsoring the event include Montgomery Center for the Arts and A Parents’ Initiative for Every Child’s Education.
"We share everyone’s concern about this terrible situation and would like to do something to help the relief efforts," said arts center Executive Director Frances Chavez. "We’re a community organization and this is something our community cares deeply about."
Mr. Witanek said recital organizers have reserved the arts center facility for four hours to hold the concert. "Figuring that participants will perform an average of three to five minutes, we can accommodate 50 to 60 performers," he said, adding that all young musicians are encouraged to enlist.
Right now, said Kevin, organizers are still in the process of spreading the word.
"We have about a dozen signed up so far and several more maybes," said Mr. Witanek on Wednesday. He said participants should limit their performances to five minutes and duets and group acts are welcome.
"We’re doing this for a good cause," said Kevin. "A lot of people who play instruments … don’t really use the skills they have to benefit the community in other ways," he said. "Young Musicians for Volunteer Actions wants to encourage these musicians to step up."
Those interested in performing should contact Mr. Witanek at [email protected] or Kevin at [email protected]. Correspondence should include participant’s name, phone number, e-mail address, name of piece or pieces to be performed, instrument, age and number of years experience. Jan. 22 is the snow date. Call (908) 881-5275 for more information.

