A musical family will continue an annual tradition of paying tribute to a son lost to brain cancer with a 2 p.m. concert on Saturday, March 19, at Kennett High School.
Although Jonathan Martin Beech lost his four-year battle on March 10, 2007 – 11 days after his 15th birthday – his family has used his valiant struggle to help others. The concert memorializes Jonathan’s love of music while supporting worthy causes.
The year’s event will feature John Rutter Gloria and combined children’s, teen, and adult singers from area schools, churches, and communities, accompanied by brass ensembles and percussion. In addition, the Kennett Middle School Treble Chorus and the Chester County Choral Society Chamber Ensemble will perform, said a press release from the family.
Jonathan’s parents, Donna and Marty Beech, are well-known musicians and performers in the Kennett Area. Donna Beech is a longtime piano teacher and music director at her church, and her husband, Marty Beech, retired after 39 years as orchestra director at Kennett High.
Donna Beech has explained that the impetus for the annual concert came from Jonathan, a talent pianist and cellist. About a month before he died, he expressed frustration that he would never be able to repay all of the people who had helped him. She said her son fondly remembered the thank-you community concert that marked the end of his initial cancer treatments.
Jonathan sang in that chorus, did a reading, and helped raise $10,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, she said, adding that her son was extremely grateful for people’s outreach. In response, the family pledged to continue the concert tradition, she said.
Proceeds from this year’s concert will go to the Make a Wish Foundation. Previous recipients have included Camp Sunshine, a camp in Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families that Jonathan attended. Money from the 2010 concert enabled the Beech family to purchase a piano and 12 Orff instruments for the camp, where they helped establish a music program.
A suggested tax-deductible donation of $20 for adults and $10 for students is recommended. For more information, visit www.JonathanBeechMemorialConcert.org. Kennett High is located at 100 E. South St., Kennett Square, Pa., 19348.
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