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Piano students to support orphans with recital

JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 hour, 26 minutes AGO
by JOEL MARTIN
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | December 15, 2025 3:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake-area music students will perform to raise money for a Ukrainian orphanage, according to an announcement from piano teacher Marina Munter. 

Students of Moses Lake-Central Basin chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association members will perform “Christmas Songs for Ukrainian Orphans” Dec. 20, at Moses Lake Christian Academy, Munter wrote in the announcement. There is no set admission price but donations are encouraged. 

Participating piano teachers are Preta Laughlin, Marina Munter, Gracie Payne, Whitney Reck and Harriet West. Violin teacher Iryna Novikov’s students will also perform. 

The funds raised will benefit World Light Foundation, which was founded in 2004 by a former Moses Lake family, Munter wrote. The WLF operates three homes in Ukraine for abandoned and orphaned children, according to its website.  

“Their children attend public school and on Saturdays they go to the Christian club,” Munter wrote. “Some children are healthy; others are (infected) with HIV and AIDS.  The door of the orphanage is open for all vulnerable children who need a home.” 

Munter’s students will perform at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. with Novikov’s students. Reck’s students will perform at 2 p.m. West’s and Laughlin’s students will perform at 3:30 p.m. Payne’s students will perform at 5 and 6 p.m. 

For those who would like to help but can’t attend the recital, donations can be mailed to Munter at P.O. Box 1572, Moses Lake, WA 98837. All donated funds will be sent to the orphanage’s bank account, Munter wrote. 

“Our community is invited to come and enjoy a Christmas performance by local piano students,” Munter wrote. 

Christmas Songs for Ukrainian Orphans 

Dec. 20

Moses Lake Christian Academy Event Center 

1312 S. Moses Lake Ave. 

Performances begin 10:30 a.m. 


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MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake-area music students will perform to raise money for a Ukrainian orphanage, according to an announcement from piano teacher Marina Munter. Students of Moses Lake-Central Basin chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association members will perform “Christmas Songs for Ukrainian Orphans” Dec. 20, at Moses Lake Christian Academy, Munter wrote in the announcement. There is no set admission price but donations are encouraged. Participating piano teachers are Preta Laughlin, Marina Munter, Gracie Payne, Whitney Reck and Harriet West. Violin teacher Iryna Novikov’s students will also perform.

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