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A composer/pianist and two of his students will present a benefit concert Sunday evening to help a children’s ministry.

Patrick Lee Hebert, 40, a long-time pianist, composer and piano teacher, along with two of his advanced students, will perform in concert at 7 p.m. at Green Meadow Church of God.

The concert, done in two 40-minute sessions, will feature both original compositions and well-known music of all styles — contemporary jazz, Southern gospel and “even Charlie Brown music,” Hebert said. Each student will perform at least five solos, he added.

The event will to help raise money for the Helping Hands Ministry of Rio Revolution, a church that meets at Heritage High School. The ministry last year gave away about 450 pairs of shoes, socks and food baskets to young people from Blount County Schools.

Hebert, who now lives in Friendsville, has played piano and composed songs most of his life.

“I fell in love with classical music at a very young age,” he said. “When I was 10, I started banging around on a friend’s piano.”

When his parents learned of his passion, Hebert said they were elated and helped him realize his dream. At the age of 13, the New Hampshire native became the pianist at the Pentecostal church his father pastored, serving in that capacity for 20 years, until the church closed in 2004.

Moved to Blount

Two years later, he moved to Blount County to join his wife and son, who had relocated
earlier.

“Two weeks before I moved (to Blount County), without meeting me, the music director called me up and hired me (at Green Meadow) before I got here,” Hebert said. “I arrived on a Saturday and started playing there on Sunday.”

Sunday’s concert will feature Ben Jackle, 12, and Hebert’s 9-year-old son, Patrick Lee Hebert II. Hebert started teaching Jackle a year ago, and young Hebert about two years ago.

“These are hard-working advanced students,” Hebert said. “A lot of my students are adults, and adults won’t play concerts. The kids, really, really want to play. They are just looking forward to it.”

Hebert said he met Jackle at a concert about a year ago. Shortly thereafter, he started teaching the Friendsville boy, whom he refers to as “a phenomenally gifted child.”

As far as teaching his son, Hebert said he was told it would be difficult. Instead, young Hebert started showing an interest on his own.

“It’s something we do together,” Hebert said. “We play duets and he has performed with me in about 15 concerts.”

CD offered

In addition to the concert, Hebert said he will donate a portion of CD sales both during the concert and a month afterward to Helping Hands Ministry.
Terry McCoy and his wife Tracy started the ministry last year. He said he wanted to do something missions-oriented, but with two small children, he couldn’t go out of the country to work on mission fields with many of his fellow church members. That’s when he thought of creating a mission at home.
McCoy said area school systems provide names of those students needing the help the ministry provides.
The ministry will host a carnival for the community 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 27 at Heritage High School. However, only students whose names were previously given to the church will receive food and shoes.