“If music be the food of love, play on.”
William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
Welcome to “If Music Be the Food…”!
"If Music Be the Food…" is a series of benefit concerts which raise awareness and support for our neighbors in the local community who are experiencing food insecurity. Our mission also includes teaching music students about the importance of utilizing their artistic talents for the good of the community. 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 its forms; our bodies require nourishment from food and our souls from 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 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. By not setting ticket prices, we strive to provide nourishment to all with no restrictions and to make it known that any donation, whether it be monetary, musical, or in-kind, is of equal importance. 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 every “If Music Be the Food…” concert.
Each “If Music Be the Food…” chapter has its own Artistic Director and its own partnering food bank. By sharing this simple website and committing to a 100% volunteer operation, we 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.
Chapters and Concerts
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Lior Willinger, Artistic Director
Hannah Emigh-Doyle, Christian Paquette
Matthew Stiens, StaffIMBTF Baltimore began its series in 2016. All concerts benefit the Maryland Food Bank.
For more information, email ifmusicbethefoodbaltimore@gmail.com. -
Harumi Rhodes, Artistic Director
Ejaye Gilbert, Volunteer Manager
Sara Parkinson, Director of Music at St Aidan’s ChurchFor more information, email harumirhodes@gmail.com
Partnering Food Pantry: Harvest of Hope Food Pantry
Concert:
Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 6 PM
Location: Boulder Public Library, Canyon Theater, 1000 Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO 80302
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Adam Paul Cordle, Artistic Director
Email contact: acordle@uic.edu
Concerts benefit the University of Illinois Chicago Pop-Up Pantry.
This season’s concerts:
November 17, 2023 at 7:30 PM Central Time, and April 26, 2024, at 7:30 PM Central Time
Location:
University of Illinois Chicago
School of Theatre & Music
1040 W Harrison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
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Sheila Reinhold, Artistic Director
Hosted by Temple Emanuel Denver in the Feiner Family Chapel
51 Grape Street, Denver, CO, 80220
All concerts will benefit the Weinberg Food Pantry of Jewish Family Service
For more information, please email lsoicher@jewishfamilyservice.org, or contact Artistic Director Sheila Reinhold at sheila.reinhold@gmail.com
Concert:October 22, 2024 at 7 PM
Yumi Hwang-Williams and Sheila Reinhold, violins; Matthew Dane, viola; Seoyeon Min, cello
Works of Mozart, Bartok, Beethoven, and more
Suggested admission: non-perishable food items and/or monetary donations for the Weinberg Food Pantry
Registration required: https://www.emanueldenver.org/event/sukkot-chamber-concert.html
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Kelsey K. Rogers, Artistic Director
Joel Walters, Administrative Liaison
Susie Kapelowitz, Amen food Pantry directorFor more information, please email Artistic Director Kelsey Rogers: kelseykrogers@gmail.com
All concerts benefit the AMEN Food Pantry of North Dakota
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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.
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Yvonne Lam, Artistic Director
Karen Lewis, Rector, St. Paul’s EpiscopalConcerts benefit the First Presbyterian Food Bank. For more information, contact Yvonne Lam at lamyvonn@msu.edu.
Concert:
Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 7pm
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
218 W. Ottawa St
Lansing, MI 48933
An evening of chamber music featuring chamber groups from Michigan State University’s College of Music to benefit the First Presbyterian Food Bank.
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Sasha Ferreira, Artistic Director
For more information, call 601-467-4347 or email sashaferreira@gmail.com.
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Carol Rodland, Artistic Director
Michael Yuge, Host and Executive Director of the Tenri Cultural Institute
Grace O'Grady, City Harvest LiaisonAll concerts take place on Sunday afternoons at the Tenri Cultural Institute of New York, 43A West 13th St, New York, NY 10011, www.tenri.org
Suggested admission to all IMBTF NYC concerts: monetary donations of any amount or non-perishable food items for City Harvest.
September 15, 2024 at 4 PM
A concert celebrating Anton Bruckner's 200th birth year! Featuring Catherine Cho and Maya Kilburn, violins, Natasha Brofsky, cello, Milan Milislavjevic and Yuchen Lu, violas, performing Bruckner's epic string quintet and pianists Leon Bernsdorf-Christ and Andrew Hsu performing four-hand arrangements of selections from Bruckner symphonies
January 26, 2025 at 4PM: Works of Brahms, Ives, and Mozart. Featuring Juilliard faculty members Lydia Brown, piano, Laurie Smukler, violin, and Zvi Plesser cello, with Juilliard students and faculty TBD
March 23, 2025 at 4PM: IMBTF NYC annual Viola Spring Celebration with students and faculty from the Juilliard Viola Department
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Joanne Harris Rodland, Artistic Director
Hosted by First United Church of Christ, 300 Union st, Northfield, MN 55057
Beneficiary: Community Action Center of Northfield, Scott Wopata, CAC Representative
For more information please contact Artistic Director Joanne Harris Rodland at jhrodland@gmail.com.
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Lorien Benet Hart, Artistic Director
All concerts feature Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Food Bank Beneficiary: 412 Food Rescue.
For more information please contact Artistic Director Loren Benet Hart: jonahgail@gmail.com.
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Mimi Hwang, Artistic Director
John Sherer and James Kealey, Administrative Liaisons
Mark Dwyer, Foodlink LiaisonAdmission to concerts is cash/check donation and/or non-perishable food items.
100% of your donation will go to Foodlink.Questions? Email Mimi Hwang: mi2hwang@gmail.com
Season 16 Concerts:
Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 3pm St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 25 Westminster Road, Rochester, NY 14607
Works for Organ and Brass
Performers: John Sherer, organ, Eastman Brass Guild , Mark Kellogg, Director
January 26, 2025
at Third Presbyterian Church, Meigs St and East Avenue
featuring Alex Kobrin, piano and James Kealey, organ
April 27. 2025
at St Paul's Episcopal Church
program TBD
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Jack Gallahan, Artistic Director
Jonathan Spivey, Assistant
Genevieve Beauchamp, AssistantFor more information, please email Artistic Director Jack Gallahan at jrgallahan11@gmail.com
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.
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George Fergus, Artistic Director
Christ Church Episcopal Savannah, 28 Bull St., Savannah GA 31401
Mid-day Music at Christ Church to benefit Emmaus House
12:30 p.m., every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, beginning September 2023
Monetary donations only, please, and all donations will go directly to benefit Emmaus House.
For further information please contact Artistic Director George Fergus: george.fergus@ccesavannah.org
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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.
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Scott Kluksdahl and Michelle Jade Painter, Artistic Directors
Tom Safko, Tampa Bay Harvest, PresidentAll 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, please email Scott Kluksdahl (snkluksdahl@gmail.com) or Michelle Jade Painter (michelle.jade.painter@gmail.com)
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Artistic Director: Candy Amato
Foodbank beneficiary: East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank, Jim Staudacher, liaison
Host: Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts, Christina Wilhelm, SCFPA liaison
For further information, please contact Candy Amato: c.n.amato@gmail.com
Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 3 PM, Benderly-Kendall Opera House in Patagonia, AZ
Program:
Florence Price: Deserted Garden, Elfentanz, and Adoration for violin and piano (performed on viola)
W. A. Mozart: Duo for Violin and Viola in G Major
Rebecca Clarke: Two Pieces for Viola and Cello J. S. Bach: Sonata No. 3 in C Major for Solo Violin, Allegro assai Joaquin Turina, Circulo for Piano Trio
Performers:
Joseph Rousos-Hammond, violin
Juan David Mejia, cello
Kathryn Leippman, piano
Candy Amato, viola -
Katherine Evans, Artistic Director and Co-manager
Angelique Po, Co-managerTwo 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, please email Katherine Evans at katherine.evans@ubc.ca or Angelique Po at angelique_po@hotmail.com
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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 here or may be brought directly to the concert. For more information, please email Artistic Director Karl Robson at krobson@stjohnsnorwood.org
Concerts will be held at St John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish, 6701 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Recordings
Please enjoy these virtual versions of previous IMBTF concerts!