Baltimore Symphony Orchestra music director Marin Alsop joined students, faculty, staff and friends of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the 21st annual "Project Feast" on Thanksgiving Day.
The event, held at Booker T. Washington Middle School, provided dinner for homeless and disadvantaged persons in West Baltimore. Clothing and non-perishable food items were also given out during the day. Free eye and blood pressure tests were offered as well.
Alsop was joined by
her partner, Kristin, and their young son, Auden, who helped serve the pies. (UPDATE: Since posting this blog entry, I received an email from Marin about their experience on Thursday: "Kristin, Auden and I joined our friends, the Bishai family, at Booker T. Washington school to serve meals. Auden especially enjoyed teaming up with Graham Bishai on the pie cart. We were honored to be included and met many wonderful people there.")
The conductor's participation was not announced in advance. I learned about it from UM personnel who were also taking part and were greatly impressed by Alsop's dedication and spirit during the day. They have posted online a chronicle of the day's activities and posted several photos.
From the start of her tenure with the BSO, Alsop made it clear that she would be a part of the community, not a transient artist. She has demonstrated that commitment in many ways, including her generous seed money for the BSO's extraordinary OrchKids education project at a West Baltimore school. That was enough to qualify Alsop as a real mensch; her Thanksgiving donation of time and energy reconfirms this status.