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 each IMBTF concert.

Please visit www.ifmusicbethefood.com for a complete 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 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.