The Vermont Symphony Orchestra Holds Food Drive to Feed Those in Need in Vermont

Over 350,000 pounds of food has been collected in the past four years through Orchestras Feeding America food drives! The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is once again combining efforts with The American League of Orchestras campaign to help those in need within our local community, as well as spreading the word that orchestras are essential beyond providing wonderful music.

This year the VSO is collecting donations: March 8, 8:00 pm at the Flynn Center for Performing Arts in Burlington, VT: March 9, 3:00 pm at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, VT: March 10, 7:30 pm at the Bellows Falls Opera House in Bellows Falls, VT.

The VSO has partnered with the Vermont Foodbank to collect non-perishable food items and/or cash donations for local food shelves. Members of the orchestra will be at the theater entrance collecting donations before, during intermission, and after the performance. Every donor will receive "Classical Cash", which allows them $5 off summer VSO concert tickets.

The performance includes pieces from Rossini, Greig, Vaughan Williams, and Schubert; conducted by Jaime Laredo as well as soloist Takatsugu Hagiwara on tuba.

The Vermont Foodbank is the state's largest hunger-relief organization, serving communities in all 14 counties of Vermont through a network of more than 280 food shelves, soup kitchens, shelters, senior centers, and after-school programs. The Vermont Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, is nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation. For more information about the Vermont Foodbank visit www.vtfoodbank.org.

"For a sixth straight year, the VSO will participate in Orchestras Feeding America," said VSO Executive Director Alan Jordan. "During that time, we have collected well over 1,200 pounds of non-perishable food, as well as donations of cash. We hope our audiences will help us increase that tally significantly."

For more information about the Vermont Symphony Orchestra visit www.vso.org.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT:

March 8, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington: 802-86-FLYNN or flyntix.org

March 9, Paramount Theatre, Rutland: 802-775-0903 or paramountlive.org
March 10, Bellows Falls Opera House: Village Square Booksellers, Bellows Falls, Misty Valley Books in Chester and online through either BrattleboroTix.com or FlynnTix.org. Tickets are general admission within seating sections, and priced at $35, $25, and $15, with a $9 student ticket.

The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is the only professional statewide orchestra providing live musical experiences for listeners in Vermont. It is a state-supported non-profit institution founded in 1935 and exists for the purpose of fostering and encouraging the appreciation of music in all its various forms, with emphasis on orchestral, choral and chamber music.