Rock for Renovation to be held Saturday

Two Blair seniors will host a benefit concert on Saturday, Sept. 29 entitled "Rock for Renovation" in the auditorium from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Money raised will be used to help renovate the old Blair auditorium at Silver Spring International Middle School.

According to Ann Collins, board member of the Old Blair Auditorium Project, seniors Eric Merchant and Andrew Joseph are holding the benefit concert as part of a Communications Arts Program (CAP) senior project. Tickets for the event are $5 for students and $20 for adults, and all proceeds will go towards the old Blair auditorium.

rockForRenovation

Photo: The Fighting Janes, one of the acts at Rock for Renovation, performing at Sangha Cafe in August.

The Fighting Janes, one of the acts at Rock for Renovation, performing at Sangha Cafe in August. Photo courtesy of Jon Kesten.

Performances include Derek James, a rock band from New York, the Fighting Janes, a local Blair Band that Merchant and Joseph will be playing with, InToneNation and Neil Foley, an Irish fiddler. Chips, cookies and sodas will be on sale during the intermission.

The old Blair auditorium used to be a popular venue for performing arts in the Washington D.C. area, but since the new Blair High School opened, the old, 1200 square-foot Blair auditorium was boarded up. The old auditorium hasn't been used for the past nine years, according to Collins. "Our vision is to re-open the auditorium both as a performing arts and resource center in the community," said Collins.

Collins said that in order to match the bond issued by Montgomery County Public Schools, $600,000 must be raised. Merchant and Joseph are contributing to this effort.

Joseph and Merchant have been planning the event since March and hope to accomplish their goal of raising awareness on the issue. "This is a really important cause that we feel strongly about," said Merchant. "Even if we do not raise a lot of money, it's important that we get the word out."

Collins too, feels optimistic about the event. "The turnout is important, but the whole experience I've had working with these youth has been very positive, so I'm sure it will be great," she said.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance from this website.