The “Songs of Renewal” fire relief benefit concert is set for Sunday afternoon at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena to raise funds for musicians and artists who lost instruments, scores, and artwork in the recent Eaton Fire and other Altadena wildfires. Organized by the Lake Chamber Symphony, which is affiliated with the church, the event aims to provide tangible support to creative professionals who have experienced significant losses.
“The musicians of our Lake Chamber Symphony have many friends who experienced major loss in the Altadena fires,” said Duane Funderburk of Lake Avenue Church. “These artists have lost their instruments, musical scores, and in the case of visual artists, they have lost their original artworks and supplies.”
The benefit concert was spearheaded by Esther Kim, concertmaster of the Lake Chamber Symphony, who envisioned a way to help fellow musicians rebuild after devastating losses.
The musicians at our church created this event, led primarily by Esther and her vision for reaching out in a tangible way to those musicians who have lost their homes, Funderburk explained.
The funds raised will specifically target replacing destroyed musical instruments ranging from trumpets and tubas to flutes, harps, and pianos.
Some affected musicians are members of professional organizations in Los Angeles and need to replace string instruments to return to their jobs. Visual artists who lost personal studios and artwork stored in these studios will also receive support from the fundraiser.
“Musical scores are costly, and for so many (myself included) we have lost nearly every score that has been purchased and utilized over a lifetime. These funds will enable new scores to be purchased,” Funderburk said.
Lake Avenue Church has a long history of community engagement and disaster relief efforts.
“Lake Avenue has been a community-centered place for many decades. Our vision for our neighborhood has been a priority for us both in education, community care with supporting those who are without a home, and during times of great loss and crisis,” Funderburk said. “Our people respond in major ways when the needs arise, and their care and concern has already been evident as we have come alongside those in need with our current situation.”
The organizers believe music can play a crucial role in healing after traumatic events.
“Without a doubt, music and the arts bring people together,” said Funderburk. “In concerts we find people attending who need hope and inspiration, and our musicians have a strong desire to share their gifts with our community especially in times of crisis.”
The church hosts an ongoing concert/arts series that highlights the gifts of local musicians, and this benefit concert continues that tradition even as some members are experiencing great loss.
“It can actually bring healing to the musicians themselves to continue playing and singing through times of crisis. There is healing and restoration taking place throughout the orchestra and choruses, as well as great inspiration for those who attend,” added Funderburk.
The concert will feature performances by the Lake Chamber Symphony along with guest artists including Yue Yin and Esther Kim. The program will include classical, Broadway, and sacred music selections.
“We as musicians and artists at Lake have a strong belief that God is in all things. Even in times of disaster and great loss, we really do experience hope and faith that God will use the gifts he has given us to minister to each other and to those who attend our services and concerts in unique ways that come from this music,” Funderburk shared. “We really want to send a message to our community that we care, we want to help, and together we trust that God will use these efforts to glorify Him.”
The “Songs of Renewal” benefit concert will take place on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at Lake Avenue Church, located at 393 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101-1213. For more information, call the church at (626) 844-4700. Community members are encouraged to attend and contribute to the relief efforts.
