PILSEN — More than 300 young string musicians will perform at a free concert for the community Saturday.
Students ages 4 to 18 will pack the house for Merit School of Music's Stringtacular from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Benito Juarez Community Academy, 1450 W. Cermak Ave. in Pilsen.
The annual celebration of string instruments brings together more than 300 violin, viola, cello and string bass players from through Chicago. The students are all enrolled in Merit's Suzuki-Alegre Strings music education program.
Stringtacular kicks off with Merit's most advanced string players performing challenging musical selections. As the concert progresses, young children at intermediate and then introductory levels join the upperclassmen on stage. As the songs get simpler, the ensemble grows in size, according to Merit School of Music spokesman Jay Kelly.
Merit's Suzuki-Alegre Strings program began more than 10 years ago in Pilsen and Little Village. Today, the program serves as an international model, melding traditional Suzuki training with Latin folk songs.
Parents interested in enrolling their children for Merit's Suzuki-Alegre Strings fall session should call the music school at 312-786-9428.
Stringtacular is sponsored by the Rotary One Club of Chicago.
Earlier this month, hundreds of students from Merit's CPS Bridges: Partners in Music program had the opportunity to showcase their skills at the Chicago Symphony Center.
Headquartered at 38 S. Peoria St. in the West Loop, Merit School of Music annually provides instruction to nearly 5,000 students through on-site and in-school instruction through a CPS partner program.
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