"Strum and Drum,” a benefit concert that supports the guitar education program at Salish and Kootenai College, will be held on Wednesday, March 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Johnny Arlee/Victor Charlo Theatre on the SKC campus in Pablo.

An evening of guitar music is planned for the second annual “Strum and Drum,” featuring the Mike Murray Band. In January 2015, Murray won first place at the Northwest Artist Syndicate’s Singer/Songwriter Showdown. Opening for Murray will be Tim Torgerson, a longtime Flathead Valley singer/songwriter and instructor of the SKC guitar program. Joining him will be several student recipients of a scholarship to the 2015 Crown Guitar Workshop and Festival and students from the current class.

The concert is a collaboration between the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation and the Salish Kootenai College Foundation to provide support for an ongoing guitar music education program at SKC that is open to anyone in the community from high school age through adult.

As a result of the partnership between the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation and the Salish Kootenai College Foundation, five deserving students received scholarships to participate in the 2015 Crown Workshop held at Flathead Lake Lodge. During the week students perfected their guitar-playing skills with top-notch faculty and world-renowned artists such as Dweezil Zappa and Madeleine Peyroux.

Angelique Albert, Executive Director of the Salish Kootenai College Foundation, boasted about the program.

“SKC is honored to be working with the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation in providing life changing opportunities to our students and community members. We recognize that music education allows students to excel intellectually, and in this particular collaboration grow through one-on-one training from world class musicians.”

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for “Strum and Drum.” Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students with valid ID. For tickets and more information, call 406-275-4983, visit www.cocguitarfoundation.org or purchase at the door.