Bethel Music Center -- the shop and school next to Bethel Cinema -- became a packed theater on the evening of Saturday, June 11, as beginner, novice, intermediate and advanced musicians of all ages set out to perform solos or duets on a wide variety of instruments. Bruce Treidel, who founded Bethel Music in 1984, said he nearly panicked when he asked wife Dana how many kids were participating in the recital, and she replied "80."
"Eighty?!" he marveled. "We can't make people sit through 80 performances!" (A little round of applause emerged when he relayed this story to the audience). Treidel ended up splitting the recital into two different performances, one at 6:30 p.m., the second at 8, each featuring 40 students or so. "This is by far the largest recital participation and turn out we've ever had," said Treidel. "We're thrilled."
Brianna Duffy playing "Matchmaker" on piano.
Tyler Hill playing "Over the Meadow" on trumpet.
Check back later today for more photos of Bethel's up and coming young musicians!