Running has the marathon. Literature has the read-a-thon. And music - at least in Chicago - has the Performathon.

Three hundred students of DePaul University’s Community Music Division (CMD) will participate in a 10-hour marathon of continuous recitals on May 2 to raise money to bring music lessons to children from low-income families.

The Performathon will feature performances by students – ranging from toddlers to octogenarians – on two stages from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at DePaul’s School of Music, 804 W. Belden Ave., Chicago. The students have gathered pledges of at least $2 per minute of performance time from sponsors.

“The event provides a wonderful opportunity for students to share their musical skills, build a sense of community within the school and help raise scholarship dollars for needy students who would not be able to take lessons otherwise,” said CMD Director Susanne Baker.

Celebrating its 20th year, the Community Music Division is a program of high-quality music instruction that the DePaul School of Music hosts for community members of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The CMD enrolls 700 children and adults in afterschool, evening and weekend music lessons at DePaul. Seventy professional artist-educators teach in the program. CMD students and faculty share their talents by performing frequently at neighborhood events. The program also engages in collaborative projects with schools and community organizations.

The Community Music Division is a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts and the Chicago Consortium of Community Music Schools.

For more information about the event or the Community Music Division, call (773) 325-7262. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: For assistance on the day of the event, media should contact Jeffrey Levine at (716) 982-8415.