Oregon authors Rosanne Parry, Virginia Euwer Wolff and Liz Rusch will team up with the Portland Symphonic Girls Choir for a benefit for the Ethos Music Center this Saturday (May 14) from 1:30-4:30, and it looks like a really fun lineup of events.
For the Love of Music and Books: A Family Celebration will take place at Ethos’ newest location, the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. Kids will be able to try out a cello, sax and six other instruments; conduct a pianist as she plays; make an instrument out of recycled material; hear the story behind a piece of music; listen to performances by jazz singer Tasha Miller and thirty gradeschoolers from the Portland Symphonic Girlchoir; and enjoy readings of the nonfiction picture book For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart by Elizabeth Rusch, the middle-grade novel Second Fiddle by Rosanne Parry and the young-adult novel The Mozart Season by National Book Award winner Virginia Euwer Wolff. The readings will also include musical performances.
Participants will also be able to share writing about music and gather information about local musical opportunities for kids and families.
Ethos Music Center is a nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of music and music-based education for youth in underserved communities. Founded in 1998, Ethos began managing the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center in August 2010 in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation.
Parry and Rusch will also read and play music together May 20 and 21 at Paulina Springs Book Store in Redmond, OR (both events are at 6:30). Parry will appear at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, WA on Sunday, May 22 at 2 pm.