While music has the unmatched ability to feed the soul, there exists a very real need within New Haven to nourish residents who experience food insecurity, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. In response to this need, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra Symphony (NHSO) will present the HomeCooked Music Festival, a “pop-up” digital festival featuring musical performances by local celebrities to raise money and awareness for food insecurity in New Haven.

Curated by the Symphony, the HomeCooked Music Festival will feature virtual music videos donated by local guest artists and community music partners, including:

Anton Kot, composer & pianist; Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus; CT State Senator George Logan; Dr. Tiffany R. Jackson, soprano; NHSO CEO Elaine C. Carroll; Heritage Chorale Director Jonathan Berryman; Kenneth Joseph and the St. Luke’s Steel Band; Lisa Williamson, soprano; Morse Academy Students; the New Haven Symphony Orchestra; Southern Connecticut State University President Joseph Bertolino; Thabisa, vocal artist; and Yale University President Peter Salovey. 

Videos will be available on the Symphony’s YouTube channel as well as NewHavenSymphony.org.

NHSO CEO Elaine C. Carroll says, “The Symphony regularly partners with local social service organizations to support their missions, and a few of our closest partners recently have shared with us how their need has grown during the COVID crisis. Through this Festival, we hope to raise some much-needed funding for their efforts in our city. We are so fortunate to have so many of our regular guest artists and friends step up to the plate to help us raise money for this very real need.”

During the performances, artists will urge viewers to support four partner food organizations: the Community Soup Kitchen, ConnCAT’s Culinary Arts Academy, Haven’s Harvest, and the New Haven Food Policy Council. These NHSO community partners address various needs of New Haven’s food system, including culinary education, the preparation and distribution of food, and food justice.

Additionally, a Town Hall conversation on food justice led by the New Haven Food Policy Council will facilitate a community dialogue about the community’s needs and identify systems of inequality that perpetuate these challenges.

Coinciding with musical performances will be a restaurant week-style fundraiser, when NHSO restaurant partners will create special menus whose partial proceeds will be donated to our partner organizations. The restaurant roster includes: Atelier Florian, Orchid Café, Cast Iron Chef Chop House & Oyster Bar, and The Wharf Restaurant at the Madison Beach Hotel. To view their menus and learn more, visit NewHavenSymphony.org.

HomeCooked Music Festival: How can I help?

Donate to one of our Food Charity Partners:

Purchase a take-out meal from one of our Restaurant Partners:

Share this video performance on your social media and with your personal and professional networks.

100% of your donation and restaurant purchases will benefit our charity partners. The NHSO does not take any fees or profit on the HomeCooked Festival.