Paul Simon To Play April 5 Benefit Concert For Materials For The Arts

Legendary musician and Queens native Paul Simon will play an intimate concert to benefit Materials for the Arts (MFTA), a city program which provides a variety of field trips, workshops and classes for teachers and students.

Artist Skip LaPlante, who created a collection of 130 wind chimes from materials found at MFTA, showcased his work at the facility in September. Simon heard about the project and wanted to see the wind chimes for himself to use in an upcoming tour. But when Simon visited MFTA, he became intrigued with its collection of materials and programs for children, according to Harriet Taub, executive director.

“I think he was really touched,” she said. “He came in just about Skip, just about the wind chimes and then he saw our artist-in-residence and then he saw the warehouse and then the students.”

Simon suggested the benefit concert himself and Taub said the group was stunned. The concert, titled “An Evening with Paul Simon,” will take place on April 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. Musical guests Mark Stewart will accompany Simon as will LaPlante, who will play the wind chimes.

Read more at QNS.com. Tickets for the benefit concert can be purchased here.