Folks at the Grand Lake Farmers Market this Saturday will not only have a variety of fruits, veggies and lunch choices - they also will be treated to Westlake Middle School’s musicians performing 100 pieces of continuous music.

Westlake’s first “Play-a-thon” fundraiser, June 5, will feature music played by each class in the music department: beginning and concert bands, beginning strings, string orchestra, guitar and jazz ensemble.

Guest performances from Westlake alumni, including a bassist who won a full scholarship to Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and Bay Area saxophonist Dan Plonsey will round out the show.

Randy Porter, Westlake's music director, is getting ready for next year’s students and program. He said of the about 600 Westlake students, roughly 150 are in the music department.

“Running a school music program is expensive,” he said. “If they perform somewhere, I need to charter a bus, which can cost $500 a pop. I like to hire professional musicians to teach master classes, too.”

Porter said considering the state of the budget, fundraising is necessary. Besides playing, the students are also signing up Play-a-thon sponsors.

“Most Oakland schools have good music programs," Porter said. “Oakland school administrators are savvy enough to know that without a music department, the school is a lesser school. We’re in a place and time where most people know that students who participate in music programs test higher on SAT’s, have higher acceptance rates to universities and are higher wage earners as well.”

Porter applied to perform at the market like all the entertainers do, including sending a demo tape. He’s still working out the logistics of how to keep the six-hour concert running smoothly and how many volunteers he’ll need to help. He has confidence in the students; he knows it will all come together, “as long as it doesn’t rain,” he said.

Porter, an Oakland native, has taught at Westlake for 10 years. He’s also a professional musician and will play guitar with the jazz ensemble on Saturday.

“What we want to do is create well-rounded good citizens to be prepared in the world,” said Porter. “The rigorous study of music teaches students to makes brain connections that no other discipline does. In fact, many high tech firms recruit from music departments.”

If You Go

Westlake Middle School Play-a-thon will take place at the Grand Lake Farmers Market, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 5.

The market is located in the plaza across the street from the Grand Lake Theater at 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland  

To donate to the Westlake music department or get more information contact Randy Porter, Randy.Porter@ousd.k12.ca.us, (510) 685-4907, or Josie Sommer, jssmmr@gmail.com.   

Donations should be made to the Westlake Parent Teacher Organization.

See photographs of the event here.