by Mike Telin
Founded in 2010 by violist Kim Kashkashian, the Boston-based non-profit Music for Food is a musician-led initiative for local hunger relief. On Sunday, November 8 at 2:00 pm, the newly-formed Cleveland chapter of Music for Food, spearheaded by noted cellist and educator Sharon Robinson, will present its inaugural benefit concert at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Cleveland, 2728 Lancashire Road in Cleveland Heights. There is no admission charge, but the freewill offering will benefit the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.
“Hunger knows no boundaries,” Robinson said during a recent conversation. “The Greater Cleveland Food Bank does an amazing job, and for every dollar we raise they can feed four people a good meal. I think if we all do our part we can help to relieve this terrible hunger crisis everywhere.” Robinson pointed out that while they will not be collecting food during Sunday’s concert, they will be accepting both cash and checks made out to Music for Food. “We will be passing the hat, but everyone can feel confident that no money will be lost to an administrative cost for the concert. It all goes directly to the Food Bank.”
Robinson said that she is impressed with the work that Kashkashian has done around the issue of hunger. “Kim’s been able to enlist the great help of the New England Conservatory, where she teaches. Their students volunteer their services both in performing and with administrative work.”
Similarly, Robinson, who teaches at the Cleveland Institute of Music and heads its Advanced Piano Trio program, has called on CIM students and recent graduates to donate their time to the cause. “It’s amazing how everyone wants to help, and there are quite a few artists who are willing to donate their time to the cause of fighting hunger. I hope people will come to the concert and support these wonderful young musicians.”
Sunday’s program will include Borodin’s Trio in D performed by pianist Keru Zhang, violinist Hosanna Carella, and cellist Azure Klein; Mendelssohn’s Trio in c performed by the Autana Trio (Yuri Noh, piano, Rubén Rengel, violin, and Anna Hurt, cello); and Beethoven’s Trio in c, Op. 1, No. 3 featuring Rixiang Huang, piano, Francesca Bass, violin, and William Cayanan, cello. The Cleveland Cello Quartet (Carlyn Kessler, Anna Hurt, Sophie Benn, and Eva Ribchinsky) will round out the program with performances of Wilhelm Fitzenhagen’s Concert-Walzer, Op. 31 and Harold Arlen’s Over the Rainbow.
Robinson (pictured above) said that she is excited about the concert and being able to launch Music for Food in Cleveland. “I’ve wanted to start a chapter here for a while and now it’s happening. Hopefully people will come and enjoy the great music, support the young artists, and make a donation to a very good cause.”
Published on ClevelandClassical.com November 3, 2015.
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