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It's about 2:15 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, and five high school students -- top-notch violinists -- are practicing, getting ready to perform at Source Booksellers on Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit.
They're led by Cecelia Sharpe, founder, conductor, instructor and mentor of the group Urban Stringz. She's on the right above, playing cello. Close your eyes and it's not hard to imagine you're listening to professionals. They sound that good.
Urban Stringz is an extraurricular activity for Metro Detroit children, funded by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, individuals and local business. The students, many of whom are from Detroit, play at different city events like Noel Night in Midtown, and hospitals and schools, and their music varies from classical to hip-hop to jazz.
Sharpe, an educator, radio personality and musician, talks about the program and mentions its goal: To transform children one note at a time by offering a fun and educational music experience.
"Our Urban Stringz participants are taught to believe in themselves and to reach for excellence in whatever they seek to achieve," her website says. "We strive to build supportive bonds and lasting relationships among our youth, as well as share life skills for the future."
The five students at the bookstore are Charla Franklin, Martel Mathis, Alex Jones, Mahki Murray and Paul Munn. Three live in Detroit and two in the suburbs.
Since 2012, Sharpe also has runs a summer day camp for dozens of young people, primarily for violin, viola, cello and bass.
We caught the ensemble's practice before Sunday's performance. They agreed to let us record and share their music.
