‘Dare to Dream’

PALMER — The Matanuska-Susitna Orchestra and the Mat-Su Food bank joined forces for the first time on Sunday, daring to have the same dream — ending hunger in the Valley. The orchestra’s “Dare to Dream” concert at the Glenn Massay Theater made for a night filled with several soothing serenades, epic, triumphant scores, and bittersweet, tear-jerking melodies. Trying something new, the orchestra also presented poetry in between sets. All the music and messages pushed their theme of overcoming obstacles and achieving great things. The narrative is a familiar notion to the orchestra as they always designate a local cause or charity for every concert they perform.

Admission was free, but attendees were asked to make a donation to the Mat-Su Food Bank. There was also a silent auction that allocated funds to the food bank. Auction items ranged from handmade soaps to Denali excursion train tickets. Both small and large businesses donated about 16 items. According to Rylee Rudd, president of the Mat-Su Food Bank board, some $1,622 was raised from attendance donations and $1,805 from a silent auction.

“The event was a great success and it was an honor to work with Kate Patterson of the Mat-Su Orchestra. It was such a blessing,” Rudd Said.

The fundraising event was a family effort. Rudd’s mother, Sharon, put the auction baskets together. Rudd’s niece, Kylee Herrell, is in the Wasilla High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. She and other students provided assistance to the food bank for the event.

“I told them they had to do it,” Rudd laughed.

Listening to classical music was a rare treat for the teenagers. Most of them enjoyed it and found it soothing. Some found it so relaxing, they nearly fell asleep. This is a regular part of being in the JROTC program — to volunteer at various events, programs and functions around the community.

“It’s really special when you can help people and have fun at the same time,” said Morelle Kinne, a senior and Wasilla JROTC group superintendent.

Judy Montalbano and her daughter Sarah played Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043,” more commonly known as the “Double Violin Concerto.” Montalbano said it’s the dream of every parent of a violin player to play that song with their child. Many members of the audience flocked to the stage to sing the praises of the orchestra. They congratulated them for such a moving performance.

“I thought it was nice. They did a good job,” one audience member said to his friend as they left.

Matanuska-Susitna Orchestra conductor Kate Patterson said that the selection of music and poems in-between propelled the idea of pushing through doubt and uncertainty, making dreams a reality. She said that everyone in the orchestra was there to make music for themselves and to share it with the community. When the band formed she decided that they will operate as a community driven orchestra that supports the area it plays for. She said that the people in the band are compelled to perform because they have it in them.

“We’re here because we all want to play music. If music is inside you, you have to make it.” Patterson said.

She said it’s much the same with all other talents inside people. No matter the medium or the application, she said that what lies within needs to find a voice.

Mat-Su Food Bank Executive Director Eddie Ezelle said that the orchestra did the majority of the work. His team just had to “show up.” He and Patterson shared sentiments after the concert. He said he would love to work with her group again.

According to Mat-Su Food Bank board member Kyle Fox, the food bank feeds an average of 2,000 hungry children a month. He said that in 2016, they served 30,000 individuals and 18,000 families — 500 of those families were homeless. He also noted that they serve a large population of seniors and disabled people, a number “larger than most people know.”

Mat-Su Food Banks has three main programs: the Food Pantry of Wasilla, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TFAP), and Food4Kids. Rudd said that one of the awkward obstacles they face is the fact a lot of people confuse the Mat-Su Food Bank with the Alaska Food Bank, which is based in Anchorage, and often times people mistakenly donate to that group instead of their own local food bank. It’s the Mat-Su group’s focus to keep donations local so that the hungry in the Valley will get the support they need. For more information, visit: www.matsufoodbank.org

The Matanuska Susitna Orchestra meets weekly for rehearsals. They typically meet on Tuesday evenings, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the United Protestant Church, located at 713 South Denali St. in Palmer. Their next performance will be Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. at the Palmer Train Depot to benefit the Friends of the Palmer Library. They will also be performing during the Colony Christmas celebration. For more information about the band and upcoming shows, visit: matsuorchestra.org.