Rosin up your bow for birthday party

The public is invited to attend a free concert and birthday celebration for Helen De Pastel, who turned 90 on Tuesday.

De Pastel of Olympia is a longtime violinist and violin instructor. She taught violin for more than 65 years at Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and privately to numerous students.

The concert, which will be performed by former students and Robert Jorgensen, is a seven-movement sonata for violin and piano composed by Karen De Pastel, Helen’s daughter.

The celebration is at 2 p.m. Sunday at The United Churches of Olympia, 11th Avenue and Capitol Way. In lieu of flowers, gifts or cover charges, donations will be accepted to defray the cost of the concert.

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 10:53 AM with the headline "Rosin up your bow for birthday party."