Ahoy, matey. @DisneyPirates Pirates of the Caribbean on piano at @LVMall pic.twitter.com/Vv5yrZmMQJ
— Micaela Hood (@micaelahood) February 24, 2024
WHITEHALL TWP., Pa — Spencer Bair took a deep breath before he placed his hands on the keys of the Steinway piano.
Seconds into his performance, shoppers at the Lehigh Valley Mall stopped to watch as he passionately hit each note, seemingly becoming one with the instrument.
As applause erupted, the 15-year-old went to hug his mom, who had filmed his six-minute set on Saturday during the Lehigh Valley Music Teachers Association 42nd annual Playathon fundraiser.
The student showcase, which runs until 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, and resumes noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, takes place at two spots in the mall and features about 250 performances by hundreds of young local vocalists and pianists.
Siblings in sync
Spencer Bair and his two siblings, Gemma and Issac, are affectionately known as the “Three Bears,” an endearing reference to their last name, by their music teacher, Elizabeth Zemanek.
The Bairs were among a handful of Zemanek's students who performed with their respective family members.
Beach Boys at @LVMall pic.twitter.com/quJ95ugWUc
— Micaela Hood (@micaelahood) February 24, 2024
Elizabeth “Ellie” Joseph, 10, and her 8-year-old sister, Gabriella “Bria” Joseph, had a group of 20 loved ones, including aunts, uncles and grandparents (who drove from parts of Northeast Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York) to watch the girls play on the baby Steinway — on loan to the association by Jacob's Music of Princeton, New Jersey.
Elizabeth, 10, held onto a bouquet of flowers given to her by her aunt.
“I wasn't as nervous this time,” Elizabeth said of her second time performing at the Playathon.
Her parents, Andy and Kimberly, enrolled their daughters in piano classes (the sisters also play violin) as a way to combine their faith with song.
“We're a Christian family, and worship is very important to us. When Ellie was three years old, we purchased a piano before she could even play the piano. We wanted a house full of worship,” Kimberly Joseph said.
Andy Joseph, whose parents are from Haiti, said they had hoped he showed an interest in the chordophone instrument.
“They are so happy to see them play and now we can all live vicariously through our daughters,” he explained.
Showing an interest'
Piano teacher Zemanek watched as her students struck a chord with shoppers at the mall.
She introduced each student and occasionally lent a hand by turning the sheet music and cheering them on (even when they missed a note).
It was her 20th year participating in the Playathon, which raises money toward scholarships for college music majors and camp scholarships for high schoolers.
“It feels great. Because most of them made big, huge, huge progress. The Josephs have made huge progress. And there's been a lot of the cute little beginner students performing today,” Zemanek said.
“They've learned some hard stuff and they love coming here to the mall. It's also nice that people appreciate this. I never think people will and then [after] I get inundated with requests for lessons. I feel grateful that so many people are still interested in piano lessons and the parents are so involved.”
Donations welcome
The teachers and students collected some pledges in advance and donations are welcomed through the events.
Donation boxes are located on the mall’s lower level: Elevator Court, Boscov’s Court, and Event Court.
In 2023, close to $10,000 was raised.
For info, click here.
