RPO JOINS ‘ORCHESTRAS FEEDING AMERICA’ FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Foodlink donations taken at concerts from The Nutcracker through Holiday Pops

For Immediate Release: November 26, 2013
Media Contacts:   Sally Cohen, 585-749-1795, sally@sallycohenpr.com
RPO Info:  rpo.org, facebook.com/SuperRPO, twitter.com/SuperRPO, rpo-land.blogspot.com

Rochester, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is partnering with Orchestras Feeding America and Foodlink to collect food donations over the holidays. The food drive begins with The Nutcracker for six performances this Friday through Sunday; through Bach’s Magnificat on Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 14 at 8 p.m.; and ends with five performances of Gala Holiday Pops with Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik Thursday, December 19 – Sunday, December 22.

“The RPO is more than an orchestra that provides world-class music; we’re an organization of local individuals who care about contributing to the community in which we live – and giving back to the community that has supported us so generously for more than ninety years,” says RPO President & CEO Charles Owens. “We are proud to join with the League of American Orchestras and Foodlink to collect food for our neighbors in need this holiday season.”

Large bins will be placed in the Eastman Theatre lobbies throughout the drive. Donors who bring their items to the Eastman Theatre Box Office (433 East Main Street) before depositing them in the bins (during box office hours) can collect a coupon good for 30% off any January or February RPO concert (valid for up to four tickets, excludes Zone Four, not valid on prior purchases and normal fees apply.)

Foodlink suggests low-sodium canned goods; whole grain cereals, breads and pastas; and low-sugar options. Specific desired items include canned light fruit, canned vegetables, dried fruit, jellies and jams, tomato products, soups and broths, low-sugar cereals, grains (rice, quinoa and oats), pasta, bread, canned chicken, peanut butter, canned or dried beans, powdered or evaporated skim or 1% milk. Please note: Foodlink cannot accept items in glass containers, perishable food items, home-canned or home-baked goods, baby food, baby formula, or vitamins and medicine.

“We are so happy the RPO is once again supporting Foodlink with its holiday food drive,” said Tom Ferraro, executive director and founder of Foodlink. “Staff and volunteers are busy working to distribute more than 20,000 holiday baskets through our partner agencies. We would not be able to do this work without the generous support of organizations like the RPO and community members.”

Foodlink is the Feeding America regional food bank, which rescues and redistributes more than 16 million pounds of food annually to a network of 450 member agencies in a 10-county service area: Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates Counties. Foodlink’s mission is end hunger and to leverage the power of food to build a healthier community.

Orchestras Feeding America is a project that started in 2009 and has seen more than 250 orchestras from across the country collect over 400,000 pounds of food. The efforts of these orchestras have helped spread the word about how and why orchestras are so necessary to their communities, beyond providing amazing music.

Tickets for all of the above concerts start at $22, with $10 student/child tickets available (*except for the RR/MCH Holiday Pops benefit on Thursday, December 19, which are $20/$45). All tickets may be purchased in person at the Eastman Theatre Box Office (433 East Main Street) and at all Wegmans That’s T.H.E. Ticket! locations, by phone at (585) 454-2100, or online at rpo.org. 

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its founding in 1922. The RPO presents up to 150 concerts a year, serving nearly 200,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Notable former music directors include Eugene Goossens, José Iturbi, Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman, and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman; Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his 20-year tenure with the RPO. With Michael Butterman as Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) – the first position of its kind in the country – the RPO reaches 14,000 children through its specific programs for school-aged children. The RPO’s 2013-14 season highlights include Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik’s 20th anniversary celebration, and a performance at Carnegie Hall on May 7, 2014, as part of the Spring For Music festival.

Media please note:  High-resolution images for Philharmonics concerts are available at docs.google.com/folder; high-res photos for Pops and other concerts are available at docs.google.com/folder/d. More details are available at rpo.org and upon request. Interviews, as well as photo and footage opportunities, can also be arranged.