Kretzer Music Foundation To Host Benefit Concert With The Kretzer Kids At CityPlace

The Kretzer Music Foundation's popular MUSIC FOR THE MIND concert series will be back next month with a benefit concert on behalf of longtime local piano tuner Erick Sanchez and his family. It will be held on Tuesday, September 18, at 7 pm, in the Harriet Himmel Theatre at CityPlace in West Palm Beach.

The evening will include a performance by YAMAHA Artist Dr. Robin Arrigo, an Adjunct Professor of Piano/Staff Accompanist at Palm Beach Atlantic University and Artist Resident for King's Conservatory of the Arts.

Also scheduled to perform are members of the multi-talented musical group, The Kretzer Kids, including:

+ Skye Alyssa Friedman, a 16-year old resident of Jupiter who has performed on Broadway and recently appeared in a TV episode of Nickelodeon's I Am Frankie.

+ Olivia Henley, age 15, a vocalist from Wellington, who recently had the female lead in Ghost: The Musical at The Kings Academy.

+ Giancarlo Llerena, age 17 and First Place winner of the Greater Miami Youth Symphony Concerto Competition.

+ Chris Santiago, 16 years old and from West Palm Beach, on vocals and trumpet who is featured on Legends Radio and is the current "Young Artist" of the Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook.

+ Josetta Wang, Jr., a talented 11-year old pianist from West Palm Beach and Junior Kretzer Kids Coordinator.

+ Zachary Williams, the extraordinary young pianist from Palm Beach Gardens who won the Downtown at the Gardens Talent Competition.

Tickets for this special MUSIC FOR THE MIND benefit concert are only $15 for Adults and $5 for Students. They are available for purchase by calling CTS Tickets at 866-449-2489.

Profit from this MUSIC FOR THE MIND concert will be split between piano tuner Erick Sanchez and Kretzer Music Foundation scholarships for children.

"For well-known and respected piano technician Erick Sanchez, 2018 has been a nightmare," explains Kathi Kretzer, founder of the Kretzer Music Foundation. "He was diagnosed with a herniated disc, myelopathy, spinal fluid leak, and disc degeneration syndrome. Back surgery failed to alleviate his pain and now he is unable to continue his career and support his family."

Sanchez has been a piano technician since age 16, and six years later earned a master's degree from National Conservatory of Music in the Dominican Republic. At age 38, he is an accomplished and classically trained pianist as well as a highly skilled technician, who frequently donated his time tuning pianos for economically challenged children, as well as for Kretzer Music Foundation concerts.

Although Erick and Vanessa Sanchez are both American citizens, they were forced to return to the Dominican Republic due to the income loss from his physical disability. Just days after returning, their son had emergency surgery for a perforated appendix, followed by serious complications and additional operations. The Sanchez family dreams of coming home to Florida, and funds raised at this Kretzer Music Foundation benefit concert will help them in their struggles.

Formerly known as the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation, KMF is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the gift of music to children and seniors. "We are passionate about music being a part of every child's life and the Foundation provides performance opportunities so young artists can share their talents with others," says founder Kathi Kretzer.

In addition to awarding scholarships for music lessons and donating pianos to disadvantaged children and local children's charities, KMF's popular programs include:

+ The KRETZER KIDS, gifted young people who have performed over 60 concerts annually for 16 years in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, community events and at children's hospitals.

+ The Music for the Mind concert series presented the third Tuesday of every month at CityPlace in West Palm Beach. These concerts feature various musical groups from our area. Beginning in 2002, Music for the Mind has provided more than 12,000 young musicians the opportunity to perform while raising over $650,000 to help promote music in our schools and community.

+ The Keyboards for Kids group piano classes were given to underprivileged children at Adopt-a-Family, the Boys and Girls Club and the Center for Creative Education.

+ The headline-grabbing Keys to the Cities campaign placed 18 whimsically painted pianos in public spots from Jupiter to Delray Beach (and winner of the 2014 Bernays Award for Best Special Event from the Gold Coast PR Council). Afterwards, the pianos were donated to worthy local nonprofit organizations, including Adopt-a-Family, Quantum House, Children's Hospital at St. Mary's, Grandma's Place, Lighthouse for the Blind, Opportunity, Inc., Palms West Pediatric Oncology, Salvation Army and the YWCA, where they continue to brighten lives.

+ The PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE concerts held for five years featured a group of talented medical doctors and raised funds for local children's charities and music education.

For more information about KMF, please visit www.kretzerpiano.com/KPMF.

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