July 22-28, 2004

musicpicks

Haiti Flood Relief Concert

CLASSICAL/FUNDRAISER

Richard Casimir is a local violinist and teacher who immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager to study with Helen Kwalwasser at the Esther Boyer School of Music. When he heard of the catastrophic floods that devastated his native Haiti in May, his immediate response was to organize a benefit concert featuring his young Suzuki violin students. Apparently, Casimir has a lot of dedicated friends in the music world, because as word of his plans circulated, his little recital quickly snowballed into a major event that will include musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Boston Symphony and alumni of both Curtis and Temple. The Suzuki kids will still be there, but will be handing out programs, although one student, 12-year-old Caeli Smith, will play Mozart. There will also be familiar music by Bach, Barber, Tchaikovsky and Leroy Anderson. The concert will also include music by two Haitian composers, "Sous la Tonnelle" by Ludovic Lamothe (the so-called "Black Chopin") and "Plainte Nocturne" by Werner Jaegerhuber. The suggested donation is $25, and all proceeds will be forwarded to the Batey Relief Alliance.

Sun., July 25, 6:30 p.m., $25 donation, Calvary Presbyterian Church, 406 N. Easton Rd., Willow Grove, 215-247-8673.

—Peter Burwasser