Orchestra members from Ann Arbor Open School, Forsythe Middle School, Scarlett Middle School and Slauson Middle School performed at three outdoor Ann Arbor locations this afternoon for the purpose of raising donations to create an orchestra in Meru, Kenya.

“None of us can imagine not playing in orchestra,” said violinist Tasha Thomas, a student at Ann Arbor Open School.

“Many children in Kenya are orphans,” said Juliana Patselas, also a violinist and student at Ann Arbor School.

The two girls—along with schoolmates Paloma Paez-Coombe, who plays viola, and Larkin Babbitt, who plays cello—make up the group Fantastic Fourtet, which has played together for a few years.

“It’s a way for these girls to get involved in something bigger than themselves and learn how they can help an international effort,” said Juliana’s mom, Jennifer Patselas.

“My daughter’s completely excited about helping kids learn what she’s been fortunate enough to learn without help,” said Tim Babbitt, Larkin’s dad.

Ann Arbor Open School Orchestra teacher Diane Platt helped organize today’s Classical Revolution Middle School Movement. Ann Arbor’s relationship with Meru began when retired orchestra teacher Larry Dittmar was introduced to Bishop Lawi Imathiu, who asked for Dittmar’s help in starting a concert band program in Meru. Dittmar visited Meru eight times in four years and established the only secondary school band in Kenya.

“Now we’re trying to raise money for kids to buy instruments so that they can have their own orchestra program too,” said Vicki Li, an orchestra student from Slauson Middle School. “It’s a great opportunity.”

Dittmar has called the relationship between Ann Arbor and Meru “unlike anything else in that country.” Hundreds of music books, stands and more than 150 instruments were donated to Meru for its band, and today middle school performers hope to do the same for an orchestra program in Kenya.

Benefit performances today took place at the Sculpture Plaza at North Fourth Avenue and Catherine Street, outside Silvio’s Organic Pizza on North University and Thayer, and outside Ulrich’s at East University and South University.