One of the best parts of summer is getting to enjoy various outdoor activities – especially outdoor concerts. On Sunday, a concert will be held to bring music not only to Wildwood Metropark, but to area schools as well.
That concert is BeMusical At The Park, hosted by BeInstrumental, a Toledo-born non-profit foundation whose mission is to "bring music to as many children in our community as possible”, according to BeInstrumental executive director Carol McElfresh. BeMusical promises to fill the day and the park with great local musicians.
BeInstrumental is, well, instrumental in helping provide musical resources such as funding and instruments to local school music programs. To help accomplish this, BeInstrumental is hosting this event along with the Cat Lambert Art & Musical Education Fund. McElfresh said Lambert, who passed away earlier this year, “was a long time supporter of BeInstrumental. She was passionate about anything related to music, and BeInstrumental's mission to bring music to as many children in our community as possible really resonated with Cat.” Her memory will be at the heart of the fundraising event, which boasts scores of great local musicians raising money for the foundation through donations and side events.
Charitable Choruses
Just a few of the musical acts set to perform on Sunday include Toledo honky-tonk band Bourbon Cowboys, radio host Fritz Beyer, and local music collective The Gazebo. While BeInstrumental searched to find musicians for the event, McElfresh explained that some of the musicians reached out to the organization first: “As word about BeMusical In The Park and it's tribute to Cat Lambert circulated, we had several musicians who wanted to be a part of the event.”
If you can make it out to the event, be sure to bring your old musical instruments along. McElfresh spoke about the instrument loan program BeInstrumental provides, where the foundation lends out “musical instruments free of charge to children whose families cannot afford to buy or borrow an instrument.” Or, if you have an instrument you’d like to learn more about, you can sign up for guitar and keyboard classes hosted by BeInstrumental through their Community Music Program partnership with the University of Toledo Music Department.
The event will also host various side activities to raise money for the foundation. There's “a raffle and a silent auction featuring a guitar, guitar case and violin painted by (world-famous Toledo artist) Klaire Russell, other artwork, restaurant and store gift certificates and other generously donated items,” McElfresh noted. Kids in attendance will be able to partake in arts and crafts activities, and free refreshments will also be provided by Barry Bagels, JoJo’s Original Pizza and Subway.
There’s plenty to enjoy at BeMusical In The Park. Whether you just want to get out and have some fun in in the sun at Wildwood Metropark, listen to a great line-up of musicians, or help a child learn a new instrument, anyone can find a reason to attend.
10am-4pm. Sunday, August 16.
Ward Pavilion at Wildwood Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave.
facebook.com/events/998848500135001/
Free