The Mockingbird Foundation, a 501c3 started and run entirely by volunteer fans of the band Phish, has donated $20,000 to support a series of events next April at the Lebanon Opera House, in Lebanon, New Hampshire, in celebration of the venue’s coming centennial celebration. The funds will support a residency by The String Queens, gifted musicians/educators who defy expectations at every turn: As classically-trained African-American women, they occupy a revolutionary place in the male-dominated, very White field of elite chamber music performance. They are the kinds of role models this rural community needs to see in the spotlight, and Mockingbird is honored to support their participation in this celebration.

During this residency, The String Queens will not only put on a slate of shows for the community, but also host a youth education series to demonstrate how diverse string music can be and offer one-on-one lessons to participants, including work with the Upper Valley Music Center (UVMC). We’ll share more about the series as the event draws closer, though other events are anticipated to include a school matinee performance, coaching sessions with UVMC students, a master class for UVMC faculty members and advanced string students, and a series of mini-performances in the community. To find out more information, follow the Lebanon Opera House’s social media pages.

The Mockingbird Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that has been operated entirely by volunteer fans, with no office, salaries, or paid staff, since its inception in 1996. Mockingbird is now a leading provider of historical information about the band Phish and its music, having cultivated intellectual property through phish.net since 1994. Also a leading grantmaker in music education for children, the Foundation has now made 652 grants, in all 50 states, totaling $2,345,395.40. Proceeds are generated by celebrating the music of Phish through books, recordings, art, donations, and special events, including the recent Eighth Annual Runaway Open golf tournament in Denver.

For more information about Phish, see the official Phish.com or Mockingbird’s own fan-run Phish.net.

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