Waltham Resident Combats Gun Violence With Classical Music

WALTHAM, MA – In 2015, Rebecca Strauss saw a news story about a murder. It was one murder too many for the Waltham resident.

Strauss felt "overwhelmed by news reports of yet another mass shooting and another murder of a young African American male in our society," she wrote on the fundraising page for the Second Annual Harmony & Hope concert.

"I absolutely could not sit back and witness this from the sidelines any longer. I had to do something."

Her response? A 12-hour musical "day of healing" that interwove speeches by relatives of murder victims and moments of reflection with classical chamber music concerts, premiering last May

Strauss returns this year with the Second Annual Harmony & Hope concert, a "two-hour performance with string quartet and gospel choir, interwoven with spoken word." The performance will be held Sunday, May 7 at 3 p.m. at First Church in Roxbury.

Some of the costs of the concert have been covered, but Strauss has launched a GoFundMe campaign for the remaining $9,000. Expenses include rental of the venue and rehearsal space, PR, photographers and videographers, payment of musicians and more.

Strauss' goal is to raise the $9,000 by April 1; so far, her campaign has received $1,700.

>>>Click here to contribute to the Second Annual Harmony & Hope concert

Check out video of last year's concert below:

Images via GoFundMe