Episode 141: Music for Food
About the Podcast
Violinist Lorien Benet Hart has been a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s second violin section since 2001. She is also at the heart of a special partnership between musicians at the food recovery program, 412 Food Rescue. You won’t want to miss this!
About Lorien Benet Hart
Violinist Lorien Benet Hart has been a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s second violin section since 2001. Her previous positions include assistant concertmaster in both the Charlotte and Windsor Symphony Orchestras. She has also been a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival since 1995.
She is also at the heart of a special Body and Soul Partnership between musicians at the food recovery program, 412 Food Rescue.
Lorien Hart holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a Masters of Music degree from the University of Michigan. She has studied under Murray Adaskin, Sidney Humphreys, Anne Crowden, Emanuel Hurwitz and Paul Kantor.
Lorien Hart lives in Highland Park with her husband, Chris, and their two children, Abigail and Jonah.
Discussion Takeaways
- Lorien has been second violin at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
- Lorien works with 412 Food Rescue on a partnership called, Body and Soul. Musicians assist with large food distributions for the most vulnerable in Pittsburgh. Volunteers pass out the food and play a popup concert for the recipients. The underlying goal of this program is to feed the body and soul of the community.
- Leading the way on this partnership are the members of the Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony. This group of 100 people is a separate legal entity from the symphony itself. They lead a foundation that allows the previously mentioned partnership, along with other programs where the symphony players work within low-resourced schools across Pittsburgh.
- When the Body and Soul partnership began, the musicians would distribute food, and they tried to offer those receiving the food free tickets to the symphony. There were no takers for a myriad of reasons including challenges with getting transportation to the event, having the right clothing, ensuring and paying for childcare, and many people felt that they didn’t belong at the concert hall. So, Body and Soul team decided to bring the symphony to the community.
- When the music starts playing during a distribution, there is a moment of extreme piece amidst the community Lorien and her team works with. By bringing their talents, these musicians make food delivery into a sort of joyous occasion, not something to be ashamed of. They believe that music is a universal language.
- It’s okay to say, “I’m struggling. I need help.” Right now, that’s not the American way. Food is a human right, and there shouldn’t be any judgement in getting someone that nourishment.
- During the height of the Body and Soul partnership, before COVID, musicians were playing at three food distributions per month; at a 412 Food Rescue’s summer gleaning program, Hidden Harvest; and for music fundraisers to support 412 Food Rescue. Now, Lorien’s goal is to create a informational packet so others can implement a project like this across the nation.
- To Lorien, “Food Dignity®” means having unstigmatized access to healthy, fresh, affordable food. And, if someone needs help, it’s provided without question.
- There is more than enough food to go around. We need to use our resources better to make sure that everyone can get it.
- The League of American Orchestras gives five awards every year called the Ford Musician Awards of Excellence for Community Service. Lorien, and her team, received this national recognition for the Body and Soul Partnership in 2021.
#1 tip to improve access to healthy food
- Anyone can bring their strengths while working toward food justice. Everybody has a place at the table.
Each week on the Food Dignity® Podcast, the Food Dignity® Movement’s Clancy Harrison hosts a wide variety of hunger experts and other people making changes on the frontlines. Join us as we dive deep into conversations that will change the way you think about food insecurity.
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