With each stroke of her bow, junior cellist Lydia Berry works to build a community around music. By creating benefit concerts for Atlanta organizations, she hopes to make strides in environmental conservation.

Since last April, Berry has partnered with Trees Atlanta and the Piedmont Park Conservancy to host and organize benefit concerts. At concerts, guests watch a variety of student performances. While admission is free, Berry accepts donations from attendees and willing participants. In total, she raised over $3,100 for Trees Atlanta and $1,200 for Piedmont Park. 

“My fundamental goal for the benefit concerts is to raise awareness for the environment and support organizations who are actively making an effort, like Piedmont Park and Trees Atlanta,” Berry said. “I also want to help display music in a positive light. I feel like music helps bring together people more than just speech. So, I’m fostering both musical participation among young students and, in turn, am trying to help get donations for environmental organizations.”

Junior violinist Isla Murphy, who played in the Trees Atlanta concert, believes Berry’s projects encourage students to be proactive in their communities.

“Projects like [Berry’s] are incredibly important and impactful,” Murphy said. “Not only do they raise awareness for important causes to the community, but they allow students to raise awareness and money for something they are passionate about and find meaningful. I think when other students see their peers participating in these events for their community, it will encourage them to do something similar.”

Berry’s first concert took place on April 19, 2025 at the Kendeda TreeHouse, Trees Atlanta’s headquarters. Prior to the concert, she had worked with the organization as a junior intern and member of Youth Tree Team, where she gained hands-on experience with conservation.

“With my previous positive experiences working with Trees Atlanta, I wanted to support them by doing more than just groundwork,” Berry said. “An individual contribution wouldn’t [have been] feasible because I was 15 and I didn’t really have anything that I could contribute financially. So, I decided to combine my passions and create a benefit concert.”

Berry said her personal connection with Trees Atlanta has inspired her continued support.

“I really resonated with Trees Atlanta’s mission, and I thought it would be the perfect organization to support considering how substantial their work is,” Berry said. “Hundreds of thousands of trees that you may walk down the street and see are planted by them. It’s amazing.”

Berry’s second concert took place at Piedmont Park on April 25. The concert featured a large group ensemble, as well as a duet and solo performance.

“I reached out to [the Piedmont Park Conservancy],” Berry said. “Considering their role serving as Midtown High School’s front yard, not only their environmental initiatives, but the crucial role they’ve played for our school was a significant factor in my support. I often think in the past, I have taken for granted Piedmont Park, so I think it’s only right for me to support [them].”

Despite weather difficulties, Berry believes performers were able to work together for a positive outcome.

“Being able to play at Piedmont Park really exemplified my mission,” Berry said. “Even though it was more of a light crowd due to rain I was still able to bring together talented musicians to play for a park that has been so pivotal to Midtown High school and the city of Atlanta; a park that has been so important to the environment of Atlanta and all of its beauty. Additionally, being able to support the arts, especially young musicians, in the process was very rewarding.”

Junior cellist Victoria Grunberg-Mahecha played both benefit concerts and attributes the success of these projects to Berry’s determination and consistency.

“[Berry] is an incredible person, she is extremely intelligent, motivated and driven,” Grunberg-Mahecha said. “She worked hard for this event, and I loved everything about it.”

Grunberg-Mahecha believes Berry’s influence spans beyond her concerts, inspiring students to cultivate an impact of their own.

“[Berry] planning and advertising this event made me realize that a single person can really do a lot for their community,” Grunberg Mahecha said. “This was all planned and set up by her with her strong passion for helping the environment. This event made students realize they could do more and participate in fun events like these. [It] made the parents acknowledge the hard work put into this performance and be more inclined to donate. Not only parents, but other adults who were there, as well, and who heard of the event and wanted to donate to help the cause.”

By advocating for environmental initiatives that support growth and sustainability, Berry hopes to foster an impact on the environment and those around her.

“Something that’s really important to me is the concept of impact,” Berry said. “Yes, I can practice two hours a day and take private lessons and be in orchestra, but what impact does that have? Since I’m not going to become a music major, what else can I do to extend all the work I put in with the cello to make something meaningful and positive happen? That is crucial for me as an individual, and benefit concerts are the perfect platform for me to blend two areas that I am passionate about.”