Musicians, teacher present program

on Paul Banks violin classes

Violinist and teacher Daniel Perry will present a short program about the new Paul Banks Elementary Preludes Violin Classes from 4-6 p.m. Saturday at the Bunnell Arts Center. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.

This event is open to the public, free, educational, and yes, it will be entertaining.

Paul Banks Elementary, in collaboration with the Preludes Program, offers violin instruction to every first grade student for the 2016-2017 school year. In 2017-2018 the program will serve first and second graders, with the intention of adding kindergarten in the future.

The entire program, including instruction, violins, and all teaching materials, is privately funded through grants and donations.

“Our mission is to create better learners and citizens through instrumental music instruction and ensemble performance. We are inspired by the wildly successful Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) program and by El Sistema, a music education model from Venezuela that helped produce Gustavo Dudamel, the dynamic conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic,” said Perry, music director of Paul Banks Preludes.

There will be live music by Daniel Perry and special guests from the Preludes Program, Homer Youth String Orchestra Club and Kenai Peninsula Orchestra.

‘Shut Up and Write’ program offered at Alice’s on Wednesday evenings

“Shut Up and Write” returns this winter with weekly social writing meetings. Writers and poets can meet with other literary artists from 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays at Alice’s Champagne Palace through March 29.

There will be “no critiquing, exercises, ego, competition or feeling guilty,” said organizer Christina Whiting. “Just a place to show up and work on your writing projects in the company of other writers.”

For more information, contact Whiting at 435-7969 or alaskachristina@gmail.com.