Sonia Rao is a classically trained musician and singer/songwriter from San Francisco. She was featured on NBC’s The Voice, where she received repeated praise from Ceel-lo and Christina Aguilera on the purity and soulfulness of her vocals. Rao, Nix and local fiddler Tallon Sandoval will be featured at a concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Janesville School.	Country music singer and songwriter, Hope Nix, was born and raised in Edmond, Okla. She moved to Nashville at 19 and became completely immersed in its creative environment where she was immediately inspired. Nix says she’s been singing since the age of 3 and has always loved being the center of attention.

Sept. 22, 2012 — Music in public schools is rare these days. State funding for both music and art programs have all but come to a halt. Some schools are getting by with volunteer teachers, but others have had to let the two subjects go by the wayside.

Since Janesville School music teacher Suzanna Blackwood left a few years ago, the school has been looking for ways to keep the music program alive. The school’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) Music Booster is working to raise funds to support an after school music program led by volunteer music teacher A.R. Danes.

The school will hold a concert featuring Sonia Rao — featured finalist on NBC’s The Voice and an advocate for musical arts in public education — and Hope Nix — country music songwriter from Oklahoma — and local fiddler Tallon Sandoval at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8 in the Janesville School gymnasium.

“We are trying to become self-sufficient. Due to educational cuts, there is no money for a music program,” said Danes. “I think we are the only public school, along with Westwood, with a free music program.”

V.I.P. tickets are available for $20 per person and include dinner and a meet and greet beginning at 5 p.m. Concert only tickets are $15 per person. Seating is limited, so purchase tickets early at one of the following locations: Subway, Pizza Factory, Susanville Auto Center, Susanville Supermarket IGA, Customer Talk, Lassen County Arts Council, Grocery Outlet and the California Correctional Center.

According to Danes, proceeds from the concert will be rolled over into a larger event to be held at the fairgrounds. In order to maximize funds, Danes said the program needs the entire community to come out and support them.

For more information about the concert and the music program, call 253-3551