For the 14th year, soprano great Lauren Flanigan organized opera stars to perform for an evening of Comfort Ye, a unique benefit for the homeless in New York City. This year 25 people, including pianist Larry Woodward, John Musto, Stephen Gaertner, and Michael Chioldi, were part of the line-up for this heralded seasonal event at Symphony Space.
Flanigan, who regularly performs in the New York City Opera, personally oversees the event which also enlists the local community. Volunteers help collect, and sort groceries, winter coats, or blankets before the performance (see below). At concert's end, they pack the goods into a truck. This season they delivered more than 100 coats to the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing and bags of groceries to a food pantry. About one-third of the 37,000 homeless in New York City are mentally ill. With the current financial downturn, the numbers are likely to grow.
Volunteers work while musical director Kamal Khan rehearses with Eric Owens and Gaertner.
Below: Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble; Eric Owens, Raul Melo, Sondra Kelly, Melissa Garvey singing O Holy Night; Kemal Khan (left) applauding Lauren Flanigan (right); volunteer loading truck.
