About Us

Our Mission

Welcome to "If Music Be the Food..."!

"If Music Be the Food..." is a series of benefit concerts which raise awareness and support for the hungry in the local community through the sharing of great music. Our mission also includes teaching music students about the importance of community service via their art. Each concert is a fully grass-roots community event involving professionals, students, and local volunteers in joyful collaboration. We are striving to address nourishment in all of its forms; our bodies need it in the form of food and our souls need it in the form of music and community!

"If Music Be the Food..." is a completely volunteer endeavor. All of the musicians donate their services, the venues donate the space and print the programs free of charge, and the community, students, and local volunteers assist with publicity, stage management, and anything else that needs to happen for each concert. There is no fixed price for admission, rather, the audience is invited to bring non-perishable food items or monetary donations of any amount for the partnering food bank. IMBTF is not a 501c3; the only money exchanging hands goes directly to the partnering food bank.

Founded in 2009 by violist Carol Rodland in Rochester, NY, IMBTF has become a national musicians' movement, with wonderful artists across the country creating projects based upon this idea in their own communities. The complete Shakespeare quote from Twelfth Night captures fully the IMBTF ethos: "If music be the food of love, play on!" Music, food, love...it is all here in what we are doing together with each IMBTF concert.

Below is a listing of current "If Music Be the Food..." series, each with its own Artistic Director and its own partnering food bank. By sharing this simple web site and committing to a 100% volunteer operation, we can ensure that all monies and food items gathered go directly to our neighbors in the community who are struggling with food insecurity. IMBTF teaches us that by coming together in joyful generosity to share our resources, talents, and time, we can truly make a difference in our communities.

Food insecurity is an ongoing problem for so many people in our country. Please be in touch if you wish to help with future concerts, or if you wish to start a branch of IMBTF in your own community. You can email Carol Rodland directly at: rodlandviola@gmail.com to discuss how you can help.

Concerts

  • Baltimore Series

    Lior Willinger, Artistic Director

    Hannah Emigh-Doyle, Christian Paquette, and Matthew Stiens, Staff

    IMBTF Baltimore began its series in 2016. All concerts benefit the Maryland Food Bank. The IMBTF Baltimore Maryland Food Bank direct donation page (donations may be made at any time) is https://mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/music/. For more information, email ifmusicbethefoodbaltimore@gmail.com.

  • February 12, 2020 / 7:30 PM

    Violinist Greg Mulligan and cellist Bo Li of the Baltimore Symphony Musicians will join pianist Lior Willinger for the US premiere of Jing Jin‘s Piano Trio. The prolific Duo Sorolla - cellist Ismar Gomes and pianist Wan-Chi Su - are celebrating their tenth season performing together, having first joined forces during studies at Peabody Conservatory. They will perform Debussy’s vibrant Cello Sonata. Italian flutist Giorgio Consolati has been praised by the New York Classical Review for his “full tone, exacting articulation and interpretive intelligence.” A recent Juilliard graduate, he will perform his own transcription of the Clarinet Sonata in F minor by Johannes Brahms with pianist Lior Willinger. Mono Trio - violinist Orest Smovzh, cellist Mafalda Santos, and pianist Chelsea Wang - was selected as this year’s honors ensemble at the Peabody Conservatory. They will perform Beethoven’s Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 70, No. 2.

    This concert is free with suggested donation. All proceeds from the series benefit the Maryland Food Bank.

    Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 811 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD, 21201

  • March 27, 2020 / 7:30 PM

    Clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, flutist Marina Piccinini, and the Baltimore Symphony Musicians.

    This concert is free with suggested donation. All proceeds from the series benefit the Maryland Food Bank.

    Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 811 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD, 21201

  • May 19, 2021 / 7 PM

    Featuring Baltimore Symphony musicians and pianist Lior Willinger. The concert will premiere at the following site as part of virtual concert series offered by Music at Emmanuel:

    https://www.emmanueldowntown.org/music-at-emmanuel-if-music-be-the-food-may-19

    online

  • Boulder/Denver Series

    Harumi Rhodes, Artistic Director

    Ejaye Gilbert, Volunteer Manager

    Sara Parkinson, Director of Music at St Aidan’s Church

    For more information, email harumirhodes@gmail.com.

  • January 19, 2020 / 2 PM

    Program TBD
    Partnering with the Harvest of Hope Food Pantry and Riley Bright, Executive Director. Visit https://hopepantry.org/ for more information.

    St. Aidan’s Church 2425 Colorado Ave Boulder, CO 80302, https://saintaidans.org

  • December 15, 2022 / 4:30 PM

    Program TBD

    Partnering Food Pantry: Harvest of Hope Food Pantry

    St. Aidan’s Church 2425 Colorado Ave Boulder, CO 80302

  • Temple Emanuel Denver Series

    Sheila Reinhold, Artistic Director

    Hosted by Temple Emanuel Denver (51 Grape Street, Denver, CO, 80220), concerts will benefit the Weinberg Food Pantry of Jewish Family Service. For more information, email lsoicher@jewishfamilyservice.org, or contact Artistic Director Sheila Reinhold.

  • Dickinson Series

    Kelsey K. Rogers, Artistic Director

    Joel Walters, Administrative Liaison

    Susie Kapelowitz, Amen food Pantry director

    Please welcome another addition to the IMBTF concert series in Dickinson, North Dakota. For more information, contact Artistic Director Kelsey Rogers. All concerts benefit the AMEN Food Pantry.


    The first concert of this series was a great success, you can read more about it here.

  • March 19, 2022 / 7 PM

    Artistic Director Kelsey K. Rogers invites you to our 13th IMBTF Dickinson concert! Saturday, March 19 at 7 PM at St. John Lutheran Church, 146 6th Ave., Dickinson, ND Suggested donation: non-perishable food items or monetary donations for the AMEN Food Pantry.

    St. John Lutheran Church, 146 6th Ave., Dickinson, ND

  • Gettysburg Series

    Adam Cordle, Artistic Director

    All concerts will benefit the Gettysburg Community Soup Kitchen. For more information, email acordle@gettysburg.edu.

  • November 03, 2019 / 4 PM

    Program TBA

    Gettysburg College: Paul Recital Hall 250 N Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325

  • February 02, 2020 / 4 PM

    TBD

    United Lutheran Seminary Chapel 61 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, PA 17325

  • April 19, 2020 / 4 PM

    TBD

    Prince of Peace Episcopal Church 20 W High Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325

  • Grace Church NYC Series

    Dr. Patrick Allen, Organist and Master of Choristers

    The audience is encouraged to bring a dry food good or toiletry for the needy of New York City. Concerts will be held at Grace Church New York, 802 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. Please visit http://www.gracechurchnyc.org for more information.

  • https://music.gracechurchnyc.org/bach-at-noon/
  • https://music.gracechurchnyc.org/weekend-organ-meditations/
  • https://music.gracechurchnyc.org/special-musical-events/
  • Lansing Series

    Yvonne Lam, Artistic Director

    Karen Lewis, Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal

    Kirsten Breau, Individual and Foundation Giving Specialist, Greater Lansing Food Bank

    Concerts benefit the Greater Lansing Food Bank. For more information, contact Yvonne Lam at lamyvonn@msu.edu.

  • November 20, 2021 / 7 PM

    Student chamber musicians from Michigan State University play an evening of music by Ewazen, Bouffil, Ian Clarke, and Debussy to benefit the Greater Lansing Food Bank. Non-perishable food items and monetary donations of any amount for the Greater Lansing Food Bank are encouraged.

    Saturday, November 20, 2021, 7pm
    St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
    218 W. Ottawa
    Lansing, Michigan

    Park in the Roosevelt Structure on Seymour Street.

    Performers:

    Jinju Kim, piano
    Joohye Kim, clarinet
    Elene Kobulashvili, piano
    Morgan Page, flute
    Stephen Rhodes, clarinet
    Jacy Ripley, trumpet
    Kimberly Stewart, flute
    Haochen Zhang, clarinet

    St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 218 W. Ottawa Lansing, Michigan

  • Mississippi Gulf Coast Series

    Sasha Ferreira, Artistic Director

    For more information, call 601-467-4347 or email sashaferreira@gmail.com.

  • New York City Series

    Carol Rodland, Artistic Director

    Michael Yuge, Host and Executive Director of the Tenri Cultural Institute

    Gabrielle Mizrahi, City Harvest Liaison

    All concerts take place at the Tenri Cultural Institute: 43A West 13th Street New York, NY 10011

    Suggested admission to all concerts: monetary donations of any amount or non-perishable food items for City Harvest. Donations can be made online at any time through http://fundraise.cityharvest.org/goto/IfMusicBetheFoodNYC or may be brought directly to the concert. Please visit http://www.tenri.org for more information.


    2022-23 Season - Sundays at 4 PM
    Save the dates!

    • September 25, 2022: Celebrating the 200th birthday year of Cesar Franck with Juilliard faculty and students, including pianist Jun Cho, violinists Catherine Cho, Leonard Fu, and Lun Li, violist Carol Rodland and cellist Taeguk Mun
    • January 29, 2023: featuring Juilliard faculty members Lydia Brown, pianist, and Carol Wincenc, flutist and Juilliard students TBA
    • March 26, 2023: Viola Spring Celebration with faculty and students from the Juilliard School
  • January 29, 2023 /

    Mozart Kegelstatt Trio with Lydia Brown, piano, Yoonah Kim, clarinet, Carol Rodland, viola

    GOSSAMER Trio, with selections TBA :
    CAROL WINCENC, FLUTE
    CLAIRE MARIE SOLOMON CELLO
    NANCY ALLEN, HARP

    Tenri Cultural Institute


  • Previous Season Concerts

  • September 13, 2020 /

    Please enjoy these virtual versions of our previous concerts. You may watch them at any time via the You Tube links (and please subscribe to our If Music Be the Food YouTube Channel!):

    Michael White A Viola Quartet March 20, 2022: https://youtu.be/BnMdDU2kMfQ

    Kenji Bunch Rise and Shine for Viola Quartet March 20, 2022: https://youtu.be/eY8Gi6aaXrU

    Jessica Meyer A Fire to be Kindled for Viola Octet March 20, 2022: https://youtu.be/PyyD3x-S-bY

    Jessica Meyer Delta Sunrise for Solo Viola March 20, 2022: https://youtu.be/JRt3L_RU1sQ

    Beethoven Eyeglasses Duo March 20, 2022: https://youtu.be/dXib_HVQzxY

    January 23, 2022 concert: https://youtu.be/xuhClA1LQNU

    January 24, 2021 concert: https://youtu.be/Be7OqmcD5u8

    March 21, 2021 concert: https://youtu.be/ndcCTMZ1FkU

    November 21, 2021 concert: https://youtu.be/HhR2o34AAYw

    September 13, 2020 concert: https://youtu.be/N2RgNm43tA0

    See the concert on Facebook live! https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/ifmusicbethefoodconcerts/posts/

  • Northfield, MN Series

    Joanne Harris Rodland, Artistic Director

    Hosted by the First United Church of Christ, 300 Union Street, Northfield, MN 55057. Concerts will benefit the Community Action Center of Northfield Scott Wopata, CAC representative. Donations can be made online at any time via this link: https://communityactioncenter.org/donate. For more information contact Artistic Director Joanne Harris Rodland.


    Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, IMBTF Northfield will have its first concert virtually. The concert video will be shared on Sunday, August 9 at 4 PM Central on the If Music Be the Food Facebook page. It will also be posted on the If Music Be the Food YouTube channel, where it can be viewed at any time.

  • August 09, 2020 / 4 PM

    Works of Johannes Brahms, Adolphus Hailstork, Fanny Mendelssohn, and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. Performers: James Bobb, harpsichord, The Carson Duo (Catherine Carson, violin and John Carson, piano) and The Rodland Duo (Carol Rodland, viola and Catherine Rodland, organ).

    See it on Facebook! - https://www.facebook.com/ifmusicbethefoodconcerts/

  • October 31, 2020 / 7 PM

    Northfield, MN welcomes you to our second If Music Be The Food concert on October 31! Our program will feature the St. Olaf Organ Department in their annual Halloween presentation of “Pipe Screams.” Literature, costumes and decor appropriate to the evening will keep you greatly entertained! Again, in this time of the pandemic, the concert will be virtual and may be opened at the following link.

    http://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?e=3182

    In keeping with IMBTF’s mission (see www.ifmusicbethefood.com for further information on this national program) donations may be made to CAC, the Center for Food Action here in Northfield, at https://CommunityActioncenter.org/donate

    We hope to “see” you there for this spirit filled evening!

    online - Facebook live!

  • Pittsburgh Series

    Lorien Benet Hart, Artistic Director

    Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Food Bank Beneficiary: 412 Food Rescue (412 Food Rescue.org). For more information contact Artistic Director Loren Benet Hart.

  • September 15, 2019 / 7:00 PM

    Pieces for "Phillip Jones" Brass Ensemble: Micah Wilkinson, Charles Lirette, Neal Berntsen, Cahd Winkler, Trumpet; William Cabellero, French Horn; Peter Sullivan, Rebecca Cherian, James Nova, Jeff Dee, Trombone; Craig Knox, Tuba; Andrew Reamer, percussion.

    David Stock : 3 Yiddish Songs for String Quartet and Soprano with Kathy Soroka, soprano. Lorien Benet Hart and Claudia Mahave, violins; Karissa Shivone, cello, TBA Viola.

    Franz Schubert String Quintet in C Major, D 956 with Jeremy Black and Justine Lamb-Budge violins, Andrew Wickesberg, viola, and Michael DeBruyn and Alexandra Thompson, cellos.

    All proceeds to benefit 412 Food Rescue

    Temple Sinai, 5505 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

  • January 26, 2020 / 7 PM

    Mozart – Duo for Violin and Viola, K423

    Andrew Fuller – violin
    Laura Fuller – viola

    Mozart/Tribensee – Don Giovanni (arr. For Wind Ensemble)

    Max Blair, Kyle Mustain – oboe
    Ron Samuels, Jack Howell – clarinet
    David Sogg, James Rogers – bassoon
    Mark Houghton, Robert Lauver – french horn

    Mozart -- String Quartet TBA

    Irene Cheng, Kristina Yoder – violin
    Marylene Gingras-Roy – viola
    TBA cello

    Beth El Congregation of the South Hills 1900 Cochran Rd, Pittsburgh PA 15220

  • Musicians of Steel via Facebook LIVE

    April 01, 2020 / 8 PM

    The show must go on! In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we're excited to bring you the third 412 Food Rescue/If Music Be the Food recital via Facebook LIVE from their living rooms to yours!

    Join the Musicians of Steel on the 412 Food Rescue FB page (https://m.facebook.com/412FoodRescue/ ) on April 1 for an evening of Broadway and Jazz favorites. If local restaurants in your neighborhood are offering delivery/take out, we encourage you to #eatlocal and have dinner while you watch the show!

    Financial donations will be accepted on Facebook or at www.412foodrescue.org/give. 100% of the money collected will support the now increasingly-important work that 412 Food Rescue is doing to keep area communities fed.

    Dinner and a Show program:

    Musical Theater favorites, arranged for cello and piano with
    Michael DeBruyn, cello; Francesca Tortorello, piano

    Jazz piano with Harold Smoliar
    Jazz duos with Jeff and Tania Grubbs

    #musiciansofsteel @psomusicians

    online concert

  • Rochester Series

    Mimi Hwang, Artistic Director

    Robert Poovey and Peter DuBois, Administrative Liaisons

    Mark Dwyer, Foodlink Liaison

    Admission to concerts is cash/check donation and/or non-perishable food items. Donations can also be made on the IMBTF donation page on the Foodlink website by clicking on this link: https://give.foodlinkny.org/ge/ifmusicbethefood14 100% of your donation will go to Foodlink.

  • October 23, 2022 / 4PM

    This program will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the restoration of the organ at St. Paul’s, and will feature St Paul’s Director of Music, Robert Poovey, performing works of Saint-Saens, Barber, and Samuel Johnson, together with pianists Howard Spindler and Gordon Porth and trumpeter Demian Spindler. Mimi Hwang and Seth Knopp will perform Shostakovitch’s Sonata for Cello and Piano.

    Click here for donations!

    St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 25 Westminster Road

  • January 29, 2023 / 4 PM

    Program TBA

    Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs Street

  • April 23, 2023 / 4 PM

    Program TBA

    St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 25 Westminster Road

  • Sarasota Series

    Jack Gallahan, Artistic Director

    Jonathan Spivey, Assistant

    Genevieve Beauchamp, Assistant

    For more information, email Artistic Director Jack Gallahan. Suggested admission is monetary donations of any amount or non-perishable food items for the Church of the Palms Food Pantry. For Food Pantry information contact Kathy Robinett or call 941-924-1323.

  • Syracuse Series

    Lucas Button, Artistic Director

    Suggested admission: monetary donations of any amount and non-perishable food items for the Food Bank of Central New York.

    For more information, email button.lucas@gmail.com.

  • Tampa Series

    Scott Kluksdahl and Michelle Jade Painter, Artistic Directors

    Tom Safko, Tampa Bay Harvest, President

    All concerts to benefit Tampa Bay Harvest: info@tampabayharvest.org. Concerts will be held at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church or Seminole Heights Garden Center. For more information, email Scott Kluksdahl or Michelle Jade Painter or call (813) 727-2522.

  • November 10, 2019 / 5 PM

    An evening of Chamber Music and Art Songs. Hosted by Judith Cataldo at The Musical Arts Piano Conservatory. Suggested admission: non-perishable food items or cash donations. *All donation types will go directly to Tampa Bay Harvest.

    The Musical Arts Piano Conservatory 2101 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL

  • February 09, 2020 /

    **POSTPONED** New date TBA...

    TBA

  • May 03, 2020 /

    TBA

    TBA

  • Tucson Series

    Candice Amato, Artistic Director

    Stella Ede, Interfaith Community Food Bank Liaison

    Musicians from major performing arts organizations in Tucson, Arizona, come together at these concerts to benefit the Interfaith Community Services Foodbank. As with all IMBTF concerts, audience members are asked to bring donations for the food bank as the price of admission. Note that there will be a venue change this year and concerts will be held at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2331 E Adams St, Tucson AZ. Please email Candice Amato for further information at c.n.amato@gmail.com.

  • May 23, 2020 /

    The concert will be available Saturday, May 23rd via YouTube. Links will be posted on Facebook and on the food bank's website at www.icstucson.org/imbtf. Our liaison at the Interfaith Community Services Food Bank is now Tim Kromer, and we're also grateful for the support of their CEO, Tom McKinney. Donations can be made at www.icstucson.org/imbtf.



    Program:

    Trio for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano in E-Flat Major, K. 498 ("Kegelstatt") by W. A. Mozart - Dario Brignoli, clarinet; Candice Amato, viola; Evan Kory, piano
    Three Selections from 44 Duets for Two Violins, Op. 44, by Béla Bartók - Joseph Rousos-Hammond and Andrew Giordano, violins
    Viola Spaces, No. 8: Up, Down, Sideways, Round by Garth Knox - Molly Gebrian and Raiden Thaler, violas
    Sarabande from Suite No. 1 in G Major for Solo Cello by J.S. Bach (transcribed for French horn) - Victoria Luizzi, French horn
    Three Selections from 12 Horn Duos, K. 487, W. A. Mozart - Johanna Lundy and Victor Valenzuela, French horns

    online

  • Vancouver Series

    Katherine Evans, Artistic Director and Co-manager

    Angelique Po, Co-manager

    Two concerts will be held at the Central Presbyterian Church, 1155 Thurlow St. Vancouver, BC V6E 1X2. For the Central Presbyterian concerts, we are working with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. There will also be additional IMBTF Vancouver concerts on the campus of University of British Columbia. UBC has a student run campus food bank that we will partner with called the UBC AMS Food Bank. For more information, email Katherine Evans (604-828-3652), or Angelique Po (604-928-8604).

  • November 16, 2019 / 7 PM

    Romantic classical music by Astor Piazzolla, Isaac Albeniz, Camille Saint Saens, Samuel Barber and more! Presented by the Artemisia Duo (Flute and Piano), Daniel Cheung (Classical Guitar), and the UBC Sax Quartet. Admission by donation (cash or non-perishable foods). All proceeds benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

    Central Presbyterian Church, Vancouver | 1155 Thurlow St.

  • Washington, D.C. Series

    Karl Robson, Artistic Director

    Suggested admission to all IMBTF Washington DC concerts: monetary donations of any amount or non-perishable food items for Capital Area Food Bank.
    Donations can be made online at any time through https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/donate-food/ or may be brought directly to the concert. For more information, contact Artistic Director Karl Robson.

    Concerts will be held at St John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish, 6701 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

  • October 14, 2019 / 7 PM

    TBA; students and faculty organists from St Olaf College

    St John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish 6701 Wisconsin Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815

  • March 15, 2020 / 3PM

    An afternoon of Renaissance music featuring Seraphim: a Women’s Vocal Ensemble.

    St. John’s Episcopal Church