The League of American Orchestras' National Food Drive

This March, The Phoenix Symphony will once again partner with St. Mary’s Food Bank as participants in the League of American Orchestras' "Orchestras Feeding America."

This nationwide project had its start last year and was inspired by the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a gifted Juilliard-trained string player who was living on the streets of Los Angeles as a result of a mental illness. Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez noticed Nathaniel, and was drawn to his talent, intelligence, and passion for Beethoven. The fascinating story led to the film, The Soloist, a film about Mr. Ayers, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr.

This film and the Orchestras Feeding America project are testaments to the power of music. Last year’s Orchestras Feeding America project involved 250 orchestras collecting over 200,000 pounds of food.

Phoenix Symphony patrons can donate items at Symphony Hall during the “Symphonic Star Wars” and “Star Wars Mania” concerts beginning one hour prior to the start of each concert. Concerts on March 26 and 27 begin at 8 pm and the Sunday matinee on March 27 begins at 2 pm. The Family Series concert on March 27 starts at 2:30 pm. The most needed items include the following:

 Dry Soup

 Rice

 Powdered / Canned Milk

 Macaroni and Cheese

 Cereal

 Peanut Butter

 Beans

 Canned Fruit and Vegetables

 Tuna

 Canned Meats

 Soup

 Pasta

 Fruit Juices / Sip-sized Juices

For every 10 accepted items donated, Phoenix Symphony patrons will receive a voucher good for two tickets for an upcoming 2009/10 Symphony concert (some exclusions apply.)