Pali’s Music Matters Nets $3,500

Pacific Palisades residents were treated to a great night of entertainment on Saturday, April 9, at Steve’s Oak Room when the Palisades High Music Matters club held its annual fundraising concert and silent auction.
Eleven teen artists performed, and the styles included everything from early jazz to heavy metal. Highlights included Mia Rashap’s earthy-tinged version of “Lego House,” the rock band Across Coves belting out high-energy originals along with a rocking cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times,” and Anastasia Rivera-Hackley wooing the crowd with Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” and Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why.”
The capacity crowd bid on tickets to see the Lakers and Clippers, a football signed by UCLA head coach Jim Mora, concert tickets, music lessons and restaurant vouchers, raising more than $3,500. The money will be used to buy musical instruments for students in underserved schools in L.A. County.
Music Matters president Ashley Selki, who sings and plays the guitar, found the club after her freshman year at PaliHi. “I was looking for a student organization revolving around music to find people with the same passion as I have,” said the junior. “There didn’t seem to be anything like that around, so I decided to start my own club and create a place where students could connect and make new friends through their love for music.”
After the club was created, members decided to reach out to the community with their mission of bringing people together through music within the school, and to spread the love and passion for it to other places too.
The fundraiser was student-run and members sold tickets, procured auction items and ran the production.  “It’s been a really cool experience and a chance to learn how these events works,” Selki said. “Most people are really happy to help.”
Venue owner Steve Taub said “Working with Music Matters has been gratifying. Ashley did a fantastic job in overseeing the event planning and execution. We had a great talent lineup a mix of guests ranging from teenagers to grandparents and a successful silent auction. Everyone had fun.
“ Presenting these types of community-minded events has been my vision since I opened Steve’s,” Taub said. “I can’t wait to do another one.”
Visit: musicmatters-pali.webs.com.
(Editor’s note: Michael Lyle is bandleader, musician and a Foley artist with Universal Studios. His wife Heather Lyle owns Bluecat Voice Studio in the Village. He praised Oak Room owner Steve Taub. “He made a call to the Lakers front office and within two hours, four of the best seats at Staples Center showed up in my email.”)