NEC Musicians vs. Hunger

Musicians from New England Conservatory Launch Chamber Series at Emmanuel Church to Benefit The Greater Boston Food Bank

Featuring the complete Mozart Viola Quintets, Works of J.S. Bach

Moved by recent reports that poverty and hunger have risen in the current Recession, a group of New England Conservatory artist faculty, students and alumni, headed by violist Kim Kashkashian (in photo right), have united to present a chamber music concert series to benefit The Greater Boston Food Bank.  “Price of admission” to the concerts will be a donation of non-perishable food items or a check to the GBFB.  The series begins on Friday, October 8th, at 6 P.M., at Boston’s Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street, with an unaccompanied Bach Cello Suite, performed by Narek Hakhnazaryan, followed by the Mozart Viola Quintet in G minor. 

Each one-hour concert will combine one of the Mozart Viola Quintets with a different work of J.S. Bach.  The concerts will take place at 6 PM on the following Fridays: October 8th, November 12th, December 10th, January 7th, February 11th, and March 11th.  Performers for the six concert series include Paul Biss, Lucy Chapman, Miriam Fried, Narek Hakhnazaryan (in photo below), Kim Kashkashian, Dimitri Murrath, and the Parker Quartet. Students working through NEC's Entrepreneurial Musicianship program are helping to organize the concerts.

The Greater Boston Food Bank is New England’s largest hunger-relief agency, serving almost 400,000 people a year.  People are hungry everywhere in our region.  According to a February 2010 study, 394,300 people were served by The Greater Boston Food Bank last year, a 23 percent increase since the last study was conducted in 2005. Roughly eight percent of the eastern Massachusetts population uses a food pantry, soup kitchen or shelter. About a third of the households receiving food assistance have at least one child less than 18 years of age.  Nearly a third says that their children are not eating enough because they can't afford enough food. The organization depends on donations and volunteers for its ability to serve.

“Music nourishes the spirit, and we want to inspire our listeners to give to those in need,” says violist Kim Kashkashian. 

For the latest information, click here.  

ABOUT THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK:
The Greater Boston Food Bank distributes more than 31 million pounds of food and grocery products annually to nearly 600 member hunger-relief agencies throughout eastern Massachusetts in a dedicated partnership to end hunger in our region. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network. For more information about The Greater Boston Food Bank, visit us at www.gbfb.org, become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (gr8bosfoodbank), or call us at (617) 427-5200. Our fact sheet can be found here: http://www.gbfb.org/newsEvents/pressRoom.cfm

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY:
Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader among music schools, New England Conservatory offers rigorous training in an intimate, nurturing community to 720 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral music students from around the world.  Its faculty of 225 boasts internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars.  Its alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios, and arts management positions worldwide.  Nearly half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is composed of NEC trained musicians and faculty.
The oldest independent school of music in the United States, NEC was founded in 1867 by Eben Tourjee. Its curriculum is remarkable for its wide range of styles and traditions.  On the college level, it features training in classical, jazz, Contemporary Improvisation, world and early music. Through its Preparatory School, School of Continuing Education, and Community Collaboration Programs, it provides training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, adults, and seniors.  Through its outreach projects, it allows young musicians to engage with non-traditional audiences in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes—thereby bringing pleasure to new listeners and enlarging the universe for classical music and jazz.  Become a fan of our Facebook page www.facebook.com/necmusic and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com@necmusic

Contact: Celia Hatton and Kayleigh Miller 
Celia.hatton@necmusic.edu
kayleigh.miller@necmusic.edu