Justin Bartlett plays at last year’s Thanksgiving concert on a piano moved in for the evening. This year he will play on the new Steinway purchased by the Harvard Public Library Trust. (File photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

On Friday, Nov. 28, high school students Lizzie Douglas and Kristina Kronauer will present their second annual Thanksgiving concert at the Harvard Public Library. The concert will feature a Hayden piece in three movements, performed by a string quartet, and a Mozart piece performed by a flute quartet. The brains behind the event are also two of the musicians at its forefront: Kronauer plays viola, and Douglas plays flute.

This concert began as a National Honor Society project in 2007. This year, it will serve as Kronauer’s senior project. Kronauer said she knew well in advance that her senior project would have a musical theme. Although Douglas, originally from England, protested that Kronauer is the better player, she herself is a dancer as well as a musician and she shares Kronauer’s passion for the arts. The young ladies said Thanksgiving seemed like the perfect time to hold a concert: students return from college, families reunite, and there are daytime parent-teacher conferences on the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. This means a week-long vacation for kids, and an especially festive Thanksgiving spirit in Harvard.

Why the Harvard Public Library? The whole idea of a new library was very exciting to both hosts. Douglas volunteers there, and Kronauer’s father, Charles Kronauer, a member of the Board of Trustees, has been involved in its renovation. The girls pointed out that during the recent renovation the building was a complete shambles; and yet, as a dropped ceiling in the aptly named Volunteers Hall was removed, a beautiful arched wooden ceiling was revealed. This was a former art space during the days of the old Bromfield School, and today, it is the site for the Thanksgiving concert.

Douglas and Kronauer both spoke of being overwhelmed by the popularity of their event last year. Kronauer’s father warned her that the turnout might be low; they ended up running out of chairs because they were “swamped” by more than 80 people. Kronauer and Douglas said they were touched by the community’s generosity. Though there was no cover charge, most attendees donated between $5 and $20, and more than $200 was collected.

The two young organizers were eager to orchestrate as flawless a performance as possible, and therefore they have tapped not only the cream of Bromfield’s current talent, but also alumni now attending conservatories, to make up their two quartets. This includes pianist Justin Bartlett, featured at last year’s event, returning from his piano performance studies at Oberlin. Kyle Quarles plays classical guitar and studies musical theory and composition at Eastman. Tyler Alderson sings folk music and opera, and also accompanies himself on guitar and harmonica. He studies at Carnegie Mellon. Vivian Ferrillo, daughter of renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra oboist John Ferrillo, returns from studying oboe at Interlochen to perform at the concert. Kronauer and Douglas are also excited about Kate Arndt, a sixth-grade prodigy who will join them for the flute quartet portion, and may solo on piano. She has performed with the New England Conservatory orchestra and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, two very prestigious programs. Kronauer, marveling at her talent, exclaimed: “She’s only 12!”

Critical to the performance will be the brand-new Steinway piano purchased by the Harvard Public Library Trust. This purchase was arranged by library director Mary Wilson; the late chairman of library trustees Roy Moffa; and Trust secretary Charles Kronauer. Justin Bartlett, the Oberlin pianist who will perform at the concert, was also instrumental: he gave a road test to all of the pianos under consideration before putting his seal of approval on the $70,000 Steinway. As Kronauer, senior, explains it, “The piano is a permanent cultural asset, not just for the library, but for the town.” His daughter mentioned him using the “field of dreams” analogy to describe how such a singular musical instrument might attract talent to the town. Indeed, if you build it, or provide it, they will come, he said. All donations received at this year’s concert will go toward the Roy Moffa Fund, dedicated to the late public servant for the purpose of raising money for cultural and musical activities.

The Thanksgiving concert will be held in Volunteers Hall at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28.