Three hundred children and adults who take lessons in DePaul University's Community Music Division will participate in a 10-hour music recital marathon May 1 to raise money for the division's scholarship fund.

        The "Performathon" will feature performances by Community Music Program singers and instrumentalists on two stages from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m at DePaul's School of Music, 804 W. Belden Ave. Individuals participating in the fund-raiser have gathered pledges of $1 or more per minute of performance from sponsors. The event is free and open to the public.

        "The event provides a wonderful opportunity for program participants to share their musical skills, build a sense of community within the school, and help raise scholarship dollars for students," said Susanne Baker, director of the Community Music Division.

        In its 11^th year, the Community Music Division is a program of high quality music instruction that DePaul’s School of Music offers to community members of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The division enrolls 650 children and adults in after-school, evening and weekend music lessons at the School of Music. Sixty professional artist/educators teach in the program.

        Division students and faculty share their talents by performing frequently at community events. DePaul’s program also serves the community through collaborative projects with schools, community organizations and public agencies in the Chicago area.

        The Community Music Division is a full institutional member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, the preeminent organization in the United States that has fostered the growth of community music and arts schools since 1937.

        In addition to the performances, lunch and bake sale items will be available at the event, and a raffle will be held. For more information about "Performathon" or the Community Music Division, call (773) 325-7260.