Music

Feeding Ears (and Mouths)

youth symphony concert draws focus to youth hunger

Tom Giffey |

Music, they say, feeds the soul. However, music can’t feed the body – for that you need, well, food. The Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony and Feed My People Food Bank are working together to make sure both human needs are met through a free concert on Sunday, March 9, at Gantner Concert Hall. The concert, titled “Metamorphosis,” is intended to raise awareness about youth hunger, an often-invisible problem that impacts a shockingly high share of kids in the 14 counties Feed My People serves. “Metamorphosis,” of course, means “change,” and that applies to the concert in several ways. First, while the youth symphony has traditionally held an annual free concert, this is the first time it has done so in coordination with another nonprofit group, Executive Director Jennifer Severin says. Second, the effort is aimed at bringing about a change in the number of kids (and adults) who go to bed hungry. While the concert is free, audience members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate. Attendees also will be able to make financial contributions to help Feed My People tackle youth hunger. In addition to getting a chance to help a worthy cause, concertgoers will enjoy a program of both classical and modern music performed by talented young people directed by Eric Dasher. The program includes “Island in the Ocean,” which was composed by 2014 CVYS Student Composition Competition winner (and symphony member) Erich Kauffman; “Sinfonia in B flat major” by Johann Sebastian Bach; a new piece, “Ghosts of Antietam,” by Joseph McIntyre; and other works.

Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony “Metamorphosis” concert • Sunday, Mar. 9, 3pm • Gantner Concert Hall, Haas Fine Arts Center, UW-Eau Claire • FREE (monetary donations or donations of nonperishable food items encouraged) • (715) 955-4085 • info@cvyouthsymphony.org • www.cvyouthsymphony.org