El Sistema Somerville, an intensive after school music program for students in third and fourth grades, is conducting a Concert Clothing Drive this month in advance of their inaugural holiday concert, “Community in Harmony,” scheduled for December 18.  The program is asking for “gently used” concert performance attire in children’s sizes, which will be worn by the 42 students in the program, currently run through the East Somerville Community School during their first-ever concert performance. The holiday concert will be held at the East Somerville Community School (Edgerly School campus, 8 Bonair Street) at 6:30 p.m.

El Sistema is an initiative founded in Venezuela in 1975 by Jose Antonio Abreu. Its mission is to effect social change and nurture promising futures for underserved communities through intensive, ensemble-focused music education. In this intensive course, children grow and learn through practicing with classical instruments and lessons about important composers. In Somerville, students meet five times per week, three hours per day with the goal of creating exceptional instrumental and orchestral education in order to promote character development, positive citizenship and increased academic achievement.

“We want our students to look as good as they sound, and they’ve really amazed me with their effort and devotion to the study of this beautiful music,” said Somerville’s Program Director, Diane Cline. “It’s a way to encourage appreciation and understanding for the arts that I think translates into a more close-knit and vibrant community.”

El Sistema Somerville is accepting donations of concert performance attire in children’s sizes including dresses, dark slacks, white dress shirts and black dress shoes. To make a donation, contact Diane Cline, Director of El Sistema Somerville at dcline@k12.somerville.ma.us or 617-625-6600, ext. 6388.

“Community in Harmony” will feature the Somerville High School Choir, SHS Chamber Orchestra, and select students from the SHS Band in addition to El Sistema. Admission is free.