In 1968, Thelma McCoy helped organize a group of peninsula residents who wanted both to promote good music in the community and support young people interested in pursuing music.

The group began hosting community musicians at a

meeting one Monday each month and soon called themselves Port Angeles Monday Musicale.

Forty years later, McCoy is watching her vision come to life.

“For the past several years we’ve been giving out $6,000 a year to up to three students,” said member Rosemary Taylor.

Each year around April, interested students audition in front of a panel of professional musicians — Taylor said they are allowed to either sing or play instruments.

“Our only requirement is that the music is in the classical or semi-classical veins,” Taylor explained.

This year, McCoy, who is a graduate of the prestigious Julliard School in New York, is performing a piano duet at Musical Directions, the benefit concert for the Musicale’s scholarship fund.

“She taught music for 65 years and still teaches piano students,” Taylor said of McCoy. “She is so talented, it’s really a treat.”

Joining McCoy in the concert are her duet partner Kayla Dyment, as well as soprano Nancy Beier, flutist Carlos Kavier and cellist Marlene Moore, who will perform a duet, the Peninsula Singers and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church hand bell choir from Sequim.

The proceeds of the concert will go directly toward scholarships for Sequim and Port Angeles students, which is the real goal of the group, said Taylor.

‚ÄúThere are many talented musicians in our group for sure,‚Äù said Taylor of the Monday Musicale members. ‚ÄúBut we‚Äôre not entertaining ‚Ķ we just want to appreciate music and help others appreciate it too.‚Äù

The Monday Musicale scholarship benefit concert will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 Lopez Ave., Port Angeles. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 13 and are available at the door.

For more information on the Musicale, call Pat Sexton at 457-6294.