The Emeryville Connection: A news magazine published by the Emeryville Chamber of Commerce
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Music Benefit Provides Funds and Presents Tribute
They listened to music. They paid tribute to a community icon. And they raised some much-needed money.
It was all part of the 6th Annual Benefit Concert for Music and Arts in the Schools held on March 13.
More than 120 people attended the reception and concert at Ex’pression College for Digital Arts, which has hosted the event at its state-of-the-art digital theater for the last six years. The evening event raised more than $7,500 for the music programs at Anna Yates Elementary and Emery Secondary schools.
The concert featured the Emery High School Jazz Band and the Junius Courtney Big Band with special guest Narada Michael Walden, a multiple Grammy winner.
Spencer Nilsen, creative director for Ex’pression College, said the benefit not only raises money, it also raises awareness of the importance of the arts in schools, especially those in lower-income areas.
“Sometimes, a student holding an instrument in their hands,” he said, “is the difference between them staying in school or running with gangs.”
Nilsen added arts programs are also important for our nation as we compete in a global economy.
“Nothing is more important than the education of our children,” he said, “If we let our guard down, we are going to get bowled over by other countries who get it.”
The evening was also a time to pay tribute to George Spencer, who is retiring as the Emery Unified School District’s musical director at the end of the school year. John Gooding, Emery Ed Fund president, called Spencer “an inspiration to us all.” His comments were echoed by Dr. Antonio Cediel, principal of Emery Secondary.
“To call Mr. Spencer our music teacher does not do justice,” Cediel said. “This is someone we will all miss terribly.”
Spencer also spoke, thanking the crowd “from the bottom of my heart.”
He then conducted the Emery Secondary Jazz Band before playing with Walden in the Junius Courtney Big Band.
David Mills is a writer for The Emeryville Connection. If you have a question or comment, please contact him at ecocnews@gmail.com.
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