The third annual Al Berard Music Festival will be held Dec. 3 at NUNU Arts & Culture Collective in Arnaudville as a benefit for the Al Berard Memorial Music Fund at Community Foundation of Acadiana.
Like many children born in the 1960s, Al Berard began banging on pots and pans as a child.
While in high school, Berard started performing as lead guitarist in a rock band called aReFLX.a In 1983, he helped form another group, The Basin Brothers Band. He encouraged Berard to be proud of his roots and to speak my french proudly.
Berard was instrumental in promoting and preserving the Cajun culture and music by teaching and playing Cajun fiddle and original guitar music. The daughtersa band Sweet Cecilia, formerly The Girls, were admired by their father for their harmonies and musicianship.
In addition to live performances, Berard worked on scores for movies, film and television including a variety of styles from contemporary pop, bluegrass, Cajun, rock and roll and blues.
aIam grateful for the gift of music,a said the late Berard.
The Al Berard Memorial Music Fund, a fund at Community Foundation of Acadiana, was established by the Berard Family to honor Al Berardas legacy. The fund promotes Acadianaas unique musical culture by providing instruments, master teachers and music scholarships to students of all ages.
During the festival, students who have benefited from the Fund will perform for the public on the main stage, some even playing with instruments donated by the Al Berard Memorial Music Fund.
Festival proceeds benefit the Al Berard Memorial Music Fund, which has granted $40,000 to local organizations and schools in support of music programs and community projects. The fund plans to create scholarship opportunities while still benefitting organizations and programs that provide music education to students of all ages.
Sponsors of the festival are Womenas Healthcare Associates of Lafayette; Boyer, Hebert, Abels & Angelle; Greensa Piggly Wiggly; Ronny Theriot Community Projects Fund; Tomas Fiddle & Bow; The Grouse Room; Crawfish Town, USA; Cecilia Water Corporation; Dupuis Heating & Cooling; Liz Trahan Dancing Studio; Boyeras Thrift Pharmacy; PHI, Inc; Farm Bureau Insurance; St.
