Lancaster New Era November 29, 2007 This Friday in downtown Lancaster, it's music for music's sake By Jane Holahan Lancaster New Era Staff Lancaster, PA If you've been to downtown Lancaster on the first Friday of the month, you know how popular it is. Crowds visit galleries and the unique shops, they patronize restaurants and fill the streets with cheer. The idea of expanding First Fridays, especially around the holiday season, became an irresistible idea. And doing it to help a good cause made it even better. So on Friday - the final Friday of the month, not the first - downtown Lancaster will be filled with people once again. Galleries and a number of stores will stay open until 9 p.m. and this time, music will fill the air. And proceeds from the evening will go to Music for Everyone, a Lancaster-county based program that gives funds to schools and community organizations to support their music programs About 20 venues have scheduled musicians to perform and by Friday night, there probably will be even be more. Places like the 300 block of North Queen Street, where singer/songwriter and wandering minstrel Brian Thomas Jackson will be performing. Or Binn's Park, where the Dave Wilson Trio will be playing jazzy holiday tunes from 7 to 8 p.m. (sponsored by the Mayors Office of Special Events). The Penn Manor High School String Quartet will perform at Chestnut House on West King Street and the Gadjo Playboys will be at Patio at Penn Stone on West Ross Street. "Music Friday was initiated by Gallery Row, which was looking for other ways to kick off the holiday season and give people another reason to come downtown," explains Marshall Snively, deputy director of the James Street Investment District, which has merged with the Downtown Investment District to help promote economic development in both the downtown and Northwest areas of the city. "It's a great chance for a great cause and to support art and get people down here for more weekends," says Snively, who adds that they are already talking about doing it again next year. "A lot of retailers would like to stay open later, especially during the holiday season," Snively says. "But there has to be a critical mass, they want to make sure they can make money and not lose money during those extended hours." The idea of Music Friday was an instant hit. "We thought it was a great idea and before we knew it, all these venues let us know they'd have someone performing," Snively says. "Some of the venues picked the performer themselves and others made contact through Music for Everyone." "We started Music for Everyone a little over two years ago," explains founder and president John Gerdy. "It started from hearing and reading about all the gaps in funding for music and arts in the schools and community groups. It's a tremendous educational tool - the research of overwhelming - but it's being cut at every turn." Gerdy says Music for Everyone has provided more than $26,000 in grants and hopes to award at least another $30,000 in its next grant cycle. The need, Gerdy says, is huge. "Most of our grant requests are for instruments or to repair instruments. It would break your heart too see how many kids are sitting empty-handed," Gerdy says. "Last year, we gave out about $16,000 and we had requests for more than $70,000." Music Friday will get the word out. "We're very excited about Music Friday," Gerdy says. Not only will it raise the group's profile and provide funds for it, but the event itself will prove how music can bring a community together. ### Help cultivate the power of music. Click on the Donate button to make a contribution via our PayPal account (new browser window will open). Send your tax deductible contribution to: Music for Everyone 321 East Fulton Street Lancaster, PA 17602 717-871-1710 john@musicforeveryone.net