The Downstate Strings Quartet will bring an evening of music and candlelight to Effingham on February 14th, when CASA for Kids hosts “Lights & Strings” at the Keller Convention Center. The group blends classical and popular music in a setting intended to feel like a true concert experience, while hoping to generate funds to support children served through Court Appointed Special Advocates or “CASA.” 

The program will feature a mix of well-known classical works and familiar popular selections, giving the audience a very different musical experience than they’ve likely had before. Classical pieces will include works by composers such as Bach, Debussy, Mozart, and Vivaldi. The quartet will also perform popular music spanning several decades, with songs from artists like Frankie Valli, Journey, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elton John, and Coldplay, among many others.

A live auction will be incorporated into the evening. The highest bidder will select a song and conduct the quartet, adding an interactive element to the concert while supporting CASA for Kids’ mission in our communities.

The evening will be emceed by Kate Passalacqua and Andrew Koester. Doors open with a cocktail hour featuring piano music beginning at 6 p.m., followed by hors d’oeuvres and a dessert buffet. The concert program will begin at 7 p.m..

Tickets are $50 per person, with tables of eight available for purchase. Proceeds from the event will benefit CASA for Kids, which works to advocate for the best interests of children involved in the court system. Additional event and ticket information is available at www.casa4change.org.