Benefit concert to support Lambertville's Canal Music Studios

Concert 4 Canal, a fundraiser to help a local music studio rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, will take place Oct. 3 in New Hope.
A staple in the Lambertville community, Canal Music Studios started as a single-suite room just large enough for a rug and a keyboard in Canal Studios where owner Adrienne Walsh taught violin, viola, and piano lessons.
A couple of years later after the music studio’s network of students expanded, Canal Music Studios expanded into a larger renovated space in Canal Studios with seven rooms, three pianos, soundproof walls, and artwork from local artists as well as an expanded faculty that taught a larger range of instruments, genres, and disciplines. The studio now had voice students, string students, rock band students, and brass students studying with two recitals each year to showcase the improvement and talent of the students.
The studio was on a steady rise and was a thriving local business in the community, and despite the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the studio continued lessons over Zoom as well as a prerecorded streamed recital. With the work of the faculty and the cooperation of the students and parents, Canal Music Studios proved that it could sustain and persevere whatever situation it was thrust into.
Unfortunately, in early September when Hurricane Ida hit Lambertville, the floods did not spare Canal Studios, and the entire music studio got flooded with 6 feet of water, instruments such as a Steinway piano and valuable string instruments, hundreds of books and sheet music were all destroyed. The studio itself now has to be completely rebuilt. In utter shock and disbelief, Canal’s staff and students were devastated by the damage and were quick to organize a GoFundMe to pay for the over $100,000 of damage done to the studio.

In order to raise money for the music studio and lift the spirits of locals, a concert is being held 5 p.m. Oct. 3 at Spring Creek Farm in New Hope, a local CSA owned by Brent Alderfer, whose children take lessons at Canal Music Studios. Alderder has graciously agreed to host the concert at his farm of 125 acres with a pond, cows and chickens, and green hills that stretch far beyond the eye can see.
Local musicians such as Canal faculty member Matt Gordeuk, Ben Roberts, local bands Human Dog, Pinewood Derby and the music studio owner Walsh will be headlining the concert, and several community members have volunteered to help with the event.
On the official event Instagram, @concert4canal, you can find posts such as the official event flyer, ticket information, and performances of the musicians who will be headlining the concert. The cost of entry is $5.
If you cannot attend, you can donate via a GoFundMe campaign: gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-canal-music-studios.

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