Cue The Music! PS 130’s Inaugural Festival To Raise Funds For Our Neighborhood School

An impressive lineup of our neighbors will lend their talents to PS 130’s first-ever music festival on Friday, April 17, when all community members are invited to help raise funds for music programs at one of the area’s most diverse schools that serves more than 700 students from Kensington and Windsor Terrace.

The event, which is open to the public, will kick off at 6:30pm in PS 130’s fourth floor auditorium, located at 70 Ocean Parkway. There is a suggested $10 donation for adults; children will be admitted for free.

The shindig will feature parent musicians, both professional and amateur, whose styles run the musical gamut, including Appalachian, Latin, jazz, rock, contemporary classical, and more. The festival will raise funds to strengthen the music program at PS 130, one of School District 15’s most ethnically and racially diverse schools, where children represent 17 countries and 20 different languages. PS 130 is a Title I institution, and 94 percent of its students qualify for free lunch.

The money will go towards materials and supplies for music classes, the creation of private music instruction programs — including scholarships, piano tuning, PA system improvements, and more, organizers said in a press release.

Neighbors said in the same press release:

PS130 remains dedicated to keeping music in the classroom. General music instruction, guitar, band, chorus are all offered to its students as an essential part of its mission to educate them effectively, but available resources are not adequate to fully fund these programs. In response to this need, singer/songwriter and PS 130 parent Debbie Deane germinated the idea for this event to raise awareness of the importance of music education and to raise additional funds PS 130’s music programs.

Next Friday’s line-up will feature: JD Allen, Angi Aramburu, Debbie Deane, Paul LaPlaca, John Montagna, Robby O’Sullivan, Bennett Paster, Cesar Rodriguez, Eleanor Taylor, and Sandra Velasquez.

If you have any questions about the event, you can contact the PS 130 PTA on their website.