The Bombyx Brass Collective
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
NORTHAMPTON — The Bombyx Brass Collective is performing two concerts in November to benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
The 35-member, semi-professional brass ensemble has booked concerts at United Methodist Church in South Hadley on Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. and at the Bombyx Center for the Arts in Florence on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
Led by Music Director Juli Sansoucy, the brass choir will present their first program of the season, “Pops Across the Pond,” at the concerts. Both concerts will benefit the Food Bank of Western Mass. with donations of any amount being accepted. A donation of $25 is suggested for either concert.
The program will feature a variety of popular and classical music, primarily by British composers, including Delius, Holst, Byrd, Walton, Boysen and Zimmer/Fernie.
“This one in particular leans into the English music tradition,” said Sansoucy. “There are a lot of real favorites of people who perhaps grew up playing in concert bands. These pieces, although originally written for band or orchestra — obviously they’re being played by brass players — that taxes our players in an interesting way. We don’t have flutes and piccolos and oboes. These arrangements are just fantastic and memorable. There isn’t a piece that won’t linger in one’s memory, I’m so excited about this performance.”
The Food Bank of Western Mass. is one of the leading advocates in the region addressing food insecurity, working tirelessly to provide food to people when and where they need it, and to develop solutions to the drivers of hunger in communities.
“Over 123,000 people a month [on average] rely on our region’s network of food pantries, and that number will continue to rise as funding for vital programs like SNAP get cut,” said Western Mass. Food Bank Public Engagement Manager Cheyenne Burnham. “The Food Bank is incredibly grateful to the members of our community who are dedicated to making sure people have access to nutritious food. There is an important place for joy within fundraising efforts, and events like these bring people together for a common purpose rooted in care and compassion.”
The Bombyx Brass Collective is a resident ensemble of the Bombyx Center for the Arts and Equity in Florence. The ensemble was founded in January 2022 and is comprised of active and retired music teachers, working professional musicians and talented amateur musicians from throughout the region.
In addition to their work with Bombyx, members perform frequently throughout the region in a wide variety of professional and amateur ensembles.
“For the most part, our performances have always been free of charge with donations accepted. We’re just an organization that operates on a shoestring, but this time we decided we’re going to go through with everything going to the food bank,” said Ira Brezinsky, an organizer of these concerts and a member with the collective. “We have a really good time together. It’s a testament to that that most of our players continue on year after year. For the most part it’s just volunteer work. So, we like doing this. It’s unique, it’s different and our audiences are always enthusiastic, so it’s nice feedback for us.”
Sansoucy added, “It’s a testament to the quality of the players that give their time every week and just give up themselves for the music and the art and the fellowship.”
Brezinsky added the best way of supporting the Food Bank is monetary donations, because they typically leverage their dollars in terms of food purchased.
To reserve seats for either performance, make a donation or become a sponsor, visit bombyxbrass.org/donate/. In addition to monetary contributions, donations of non-expired dry goods will be accepted at the door.
To learn more about all the other programming at the Bombyx Center, visit www.bombyx.live. To learn more about the Food Bank of Western Mass., visit foodbankwma.org.
“It brings an extra sense of depth and importance that we have this ability that can maybe help the community,” said Sansoucy, on the upcoming benefit concerts. “It’s really exciting because these are tough times and it feels good to take action, and we can do that in this small way.”
Brezinsky added, “Our mission is twofold for this project, and that is to provide money and food that’s going to nourish the body, and to provide some nice music that will hopefully nourish the soul.”
