Asheville Young Musicians Club benefit on June 1

From a press release:

Asheville Young Musicians Club benefit on June 1

Founded in 2011, Asheville Young Musicians Club has grown to include eleven young musicians from area high schools who enjoy playing together and promoting classical music. The founders are local student musicians, Grace Kim, Kristie Kim and Sarah Eubank. Its third annual concert will take place at 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 1st at Bent Creek Baptist Church, located at 1554 Brevard Road in Asheville. The concert is open to the public.  Tickets are $20 each for adults, $10 for each student.  The program is co-sponsored by the Asheville Chamber Music Series and the Asheville Area Piano Forum.

“The Asheville Young Musicians Club is composed of highly talented, classically trained student musicians who come together for weekly rehearsals and present concerts to benefit children’s education in Nicaragua, and to support music education in the Asheville area,” says Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim, the advisor of AYMC and member of the music faculty (piano) at UNC-Asheville.  “The group has enjoyed performing at WCQS, Asheville’s NPR station and with Pan Harmonia, among others. Overall, the group raised more than $5,000, which was donated to children’s education in Nicaragua through Vision Nicaragua and music education around Asheville via Asheville Area Piano Forum and Asheville Chamber Music Series.”

Participating students include:

Grace Kim (flute, Asheville High School, 12th grade)
Kristie Kim (violin, Asheville High School, 10th grade)
Stephen Walker (flute, Reynolds High School, 12th grade)
Ava Peters (oboe, Asheville High School, 11th grade)
Katelyn Hammel (violin, Pisgah High School, 10th)
Thomas Fleming (cello, Homeschool, 12th grade)
Ann Gerhardt (cello, Homeschool, 12th grade)
Grayson Wickel (violin, Homeschool, 8th grade)
Alyes Chen (piano, Veritas Christian Academy, 10th grade)
Kiffen Loomis (piano, Christ School, 10th grade)
Ryan Zhang (piano, TC Roberson High School, 9th grade)

The program will feature the following:

Vivaldi:  “Summer’ from The Four Seasons
Kulau:  Flute Duet
L. Delibes:  Flower Duet (Lakme)
J.S. Bach:  Orchestra Suite in B minor
The Prayer:  voice, flute, piano
Mendelssohn: Piano trio in D minor
Piano four hands and piano solo, among other selections

“Chamber music is very mind-opening and rich, because each instrument has to focus on producing the right amount of sound and energy to make the best performance experience,” says Grace Kim.  “When we achieve success, the feeling is exhilarating, especially when it helps others in need,” says Kim. “It has been a wonderful experience collaborating with, and making music with other talented young musicians. We share our musical ideas with each other in a comfortable setting and we always bring each other up,” her sister Kristie Kim added.

All of the proceeds from the benefit concert will be shared equally with the Asheville Chamber Music Series, Asheville Area Piano Forum and the Education Fund for the children of Bethel, a small village outside the City of Chichigalpa, Nicaragua.  The children of Bethel suffer from poverty and serious health issues resulting from chemicals used in the nearby sugar cane fields.

For tickets and more information please contact (828) 681-9732 or email aymc2011@gmail.com  graceeykimnc@gmail.com  You can also check out the AYMC page on aymc2011/Facebook.