It will be all about Bach Saturday night at the South Delta Baptist Church in Tsawwassen.
Vancouver pianist and artist Tomas Chen will perform a charitable piano recital presented by Moontalk Culture and co-organized by Moontalk Art Academy.
The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m. with all donations from the night going towards the Starfish Pack program run through the Delta School District.
Hundreds of children in B.C. go to school on Monday having had no food over the weekend. Starfish Pack was created in response to this need. It costs $575 to sponsor a child for one year, which will provide a backpack each Friday filled with two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and some healthy snacks. Currently, Starfish South Delta is helping 23 students at five elementary schools.
Recently opened, Moontalk Art Academy is a comprehensive training institution for art and culture education with Chinese language as its core. It’s located in Century Square.
“We are trying to give something back to the community,” said academy executive director Rui Ma. “South Delta Baptist Church generously supports the Starfish Program, our academy is just down the street and with the theme of Bach Night, this is the perfect venue and perfect partnership. As a new business, it’s important for us to give back. We would like to do more of these events throughout the year.”
Chen, a graduate of the University of Nebraska, is friends with Ma.
“I thought it would be a great occasion to present a Bach Night,” said Chen. “I was a piano major in college and have been greatly influenced by Bach. The music of Bach is meant to be played in church, so it’s a great occasion.”
Besides being an accomplished pianist, Chen is an artist who creates in pen and ink.
“What is so special about this recital for me personally is that Rui gave me a chance to create the promotional poster for the concert,” he said. “For me as an artist to share this music, Bach is a creator and inspires people to create.”
Chen also works at the academy teaching art and piano.
