Young String Players Give Back to Fremont Community

A Violin Benefit Concert presented by young musicians of Fremont has been scheduled for Saturday, June 1, to raise funds for the Music Program of Hopkins Junior High School, which is one of six junior high schools in the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD). Hopkins' Band and Orchestra students, who account for one-third of the school's population, enjoy one of the best school music programs of the nation.

The concert features violinists and violists—Edlyn Liang, Michael Liu, Nathan Nguyen, Chantale Tso, Julian Tso, Christine Wouang, Justin Xiong, and Dixon Yang—from four schools of FUSD. They are all students of Mr. Ker Qi, a renowned violin teacher in Fremont. Mr. Qi graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and obtained two Master’s Degrees in Music in the United States. For decades, he has provided rigorous and passionate instructions to students, many of whom have moved on to become excellent musicians and citizens. Mr. Qi also imparts to his students the spirit of giving back to the community and of helping make the world a better place.

The repertoire at the Violin Benefit Concert ranges from well-known violin concertos to popular contemporary movie theme music. Our young musicians will be accompanied by pianist Dr. Anny Cheng. Dr. Cheng holds a Master’s Degree from Westminster Choir College, a Degree in Collaborative Piano from Longy School of Music, and a Doctoral Degree in Collaborative Piano from Arizona State University. She has performed in several major U.S. cities including New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston, as well as Taiwan and Ireland.

Hosting the event will be Debra Watanuki, who avidly supports music in schools and the community at large. In 2016 she served as the Coordinator for the After-School Band program for the Fremont Education Foundation, and currently serves as President of the Mission Peak Wind Symphony which she co-founded in 2014. Debra, an attorney, serves as legal counsel (pro bono) to the Hopkins Band and Orchestra Boosters. She wholeheartedly believes in the value of music education in our schools to foster well-rounded, disciplined, and collegial young people. She is honored to participate as emcee of the concert to benefit music students, and she welcomes all of you to share in her personal passion.

2019 Young Musicians Violin Benefit Concert

Saturday, June 1, at 4:00 p.m.

2856 Washington Blvd., Fremont

Raffle draw and reception to follow

While admission is free, we accept free-will donations by cash or check at the concert. Checks (payable to "HBOB") may be mailed to Hopkins Band & Orchestra Boosters, 43575 Mission Boulevard, #352, Fremont, CA 94539. You may also donate online at https://musicathopkins.com/support-us/donations/