“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

  • Lior Willinger, Artistic Director
    Hannah Emigh-Doyle, Christian Paquette
    Matthew Stiens, Staff

    IMBTF 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 Church

    For more information, email harumirhodes@gmail.com.

    Donate

  • 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

    Donate

  • Sheila Reinhold, Artistic Director

    Hosted by Temple Emanuel Denver (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 3, 2023 at 7 PM

    Yumi Hwang-Williams, violin
    Sheila Reinhold, violin, viola
    Seoyoen Min, cello
    Nicholas Tisherman, oboe

    Mozart, Paganini, Bach and more!

    Donate

  • Kelsey K. Rogers, Artistic Director
    Joel Walters, Administrative Liaison
    Susie Kapelowitz, Amen food Pantry director

    For more information, please email Artistic Director Kelsey Rogers: kelseykrogers@gmail.com

    All concerts benefit the AMEN Food Pantry of North Dakota

    Donate

  • 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.

    Grace Church website

  • Yvonne Lam, Artistic Director
    Karen Lewis, Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal

    Concerts 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.


    Donate

  • Sasha Ferreira, Artistic Director

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

  • Carol Rodland, Artistic Director
    Michael Yuge, Host and Executive Director of the Tenri Cultural Institute
    Chelsea Ettlinger, City Harvest Liaison

    All concerts at Tenri Cultural Institute of New York, 43A West 13th St, New York, NY 10011, www.tenri.org

    Suggested admission to all concerts: monetary donations of any amount or non-perishable food items for City Harvest.

    September 24, 2023 at 4PM: Featuring Julian Martin, piano, with Juilliard students and faculty TBD

    January 28, 2024 at 4PM: Featuring Marcy Rosen, cello and Daniel Phillips, violin, with Juilliard students and faculty TBD

    March 24, 2024 at 4PM: IMBTF NYC annual Viola Spring Celebration with students and faculty from the Juilliard Viola Department

    Donate

  • 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.

    Donate

  • 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.


    Donate

  • 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.
    100% of your donation will go to Foodlink.

    Questions? Email Mimi Hwang: mi2hwang@gmail.com

    Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 4pm St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 25 Westminster Road, Rochester, NY 14607

    Works by Mark Kellogg and Brahms

    Performers: Mark Kellogg, trombone; Elinor Freer, piano; Wendy Sharp, violin; Marka Gustavsson, viola; Mimi Hwang, cello

    Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 4pm Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs Street, Rochester, NY 14607

    Performers include: James Kealey, organ; Tony Caramia, piano; Alexandra Hine and Annette Farrington, flutes

    Works by Yuko Uebayashi and others

    Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 4pm St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 25 Westminster Road, Rochester, NY 14607

    Performers include: Rochester Philharmonic String Quartet

    Works: TBD

    Donate

  • Jack Gallahan, Artistic Director
    Jonathan Spivey, Assistant
    Genevieve Beauchamp, Assistant

    For 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

    Donate

  • 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, please email Scott Kluksdahl (snkluksdahl@gmail.com) or Michelle Jade Painter (michelle.jade.painter@gmail.com)


    Donate

  • 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-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, please email Katherine Evans at katherine.evans@ubc.ca or Angelique Po at angelique_po@hotmail.com

    Donate

  • 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!

Gallery