Juilliard Student to Perform for a Good Cause

While some college students use Spring Break to relax, go on vacation or catch up on their television watching, Chestnut Hill native Caeli Smith, 18, is using her time to host a violin concert at March 13.

Smith, a student at Juilliard, is holding the free concert to raise awareness and money for an outreach trip to Antigua City, Guatemala this summer.

Along with a group of fellow students, Smith will journey to Las Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro (Social Works of Brother Pedro) hospital in Antigua to demonstrate the healing power of music and performing arts.

“The hospital is understaffed, and there isn’t time for them to work creatively with inpatient care. But music and arts are so important to development, especially in children,” Smith said.

“We are hoping to raise awareness of the healing power of music, and that it might get added as a permanent method of care at the facility.”

Smith, a violinist in her first year at Juilliard, grew up in Chestnut Hill, and went to school at in Mt. Airy. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra member locally, nationally and internationally.

Three other musicians and two dancers will join Smith on the trip. The group, which calls themselves Rayos de Canción, or Rays of Music, received a $2,500 grant from Juilliard for the trip. Each member of the group has to raise an additional $700 each before they depart.

The group hopes to make the trip an annual project, pending the success of their maiden voyage to Las Obras Sociales. Smith herself is hoping to make an impact for the patients of the facility.

“There is plenty of research that shows the healing power of music. This facility works with the poorest people, people with disabilities, abandoned children with disabilities, the elderly, all sorts,” Smith said.

“We’re hoping that they will see this as a real form of supplemental care for the patients.”

Using her art to raise awareness, she quickly developed the idea of hosting a concert in her home neighborhood during her Spring Break. Along with accompanist Tim Ribchester, Smith will be playing works by J.S. Bach, Samuel Barber and Astor Piazzolla.

She is hoping that those in attendance not only enjoy an afternoon of free music, but are inspired to donate to the cause.

“The fundraising has been going well so far. I have an entire contact list, and people have been very generous here and at school. Hopefully, people will make it out to the concert. I would love for anyone to learn about the project,” Smith said.

The concert will be held Sunday, March 13, at 3 p.m. It will take place at Christ Ascension Lutheran Church, 8300 Germantown Avenue, and will be free and open to the public.

To see Smith play a movement from "Partita #2," by J.S. Bach, see the video with this story. For more information on how to donate to the Rayos de Canción, click here.