Helping promote music therapy in Athens and around the state

The Aria Benefit: Friday, Feb. 24, 8 pm, Ramsey Concert Hall

Cost: $15 general admission, $5 students. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Nuci’s Space or at the door.

The Aria Fund promotes music therapy, focusing first in the Athens area and then reaching people throughout the state in need of cognitive, psychosocial, emotional, and expressive outlets through the gift of music.

The fund was founded by University of Georgia graduate Cori Snyder, a music therapist in the Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and wife of the Georgia Guitar Quartet's Phil Snyder. With this concert, The Aria Fund gets off the ground and offers up an evening of incredible music, featuring Phil Snyder, Brian Smith and Kyle Dawkins (members of the Georgia Guitar Quartet) in their new project, Revien. They'll be joined on stage by local rocker Don Chambers (Don Chambers + GOAT), whose gravel-tinged vocals and ponderously chunky lyrics will meet the classical stylings of two guitars and cello in Revien. Revien also will be joined by the outstanding vocal talent and UGA music therapy instructor Ellen Ritchey, as well as Arasmus Percussion Group which takes percussion to truly awe-inspiring heights.

An additional day of events will be held from 2-5 p.m. Saturday at Nuci's Space, with demonstrations and performances as well as a master class with members from the Georgia Guitar Quartet and Revien, Phil Snyder, Brian Smith and Kyle Dawkins. Performance will feature local artist Kyshona Armstrong, also a music therapist. Saturday's event is free but donations gladly accepted.