The Montana State University Jazz Ensemble is hosting a concert next Tuesday, Nov. 26, with the goal of getting the community into the spirit of giving.
The group is gearing up for their inaugural concert: “Music for Mittens.”
What sparked Professor Ryan Matzinger’s idea for the concert, a new way to give back to the community?
“I kept seeing the same homeless gentleman and it was when we were in this early cold snap when it felt like it was going to be a really long winter,” said Matzinger. “I just thought to myself, ‘What’s something we can do?’”
The concert is an invitation to the community to donate to those in need, all while enjoying some good tunes.
“What about sharing the warmth?” Matzinger asked. “Doing a glove and mitten drive and seeing if you can create a student legacy that way. You know, an element of the Bozeman community of just giving back though the students and through the university, based in jazz music.”
And the students share that same mindset.
“With the Music for Mittens and Spread the Warmth, we’re wanting to start a legacy and with that we’re wanting to continue that legacy and have it grow into something bigger than what it is right now.”
Starting small, one pair of mittens at a time.
“You know, what you get is only what you give, because in the end, that’s all we really get,” said Jalen Cantu, split-lead trumpet. “It’s all we can take with us is what we’ve given and what we’ve left here.”
The concert kicks off at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the Crawford Theater at the Emerson.
Donations will be collected before the concert in the lobby of the Emerson and in MSU’s Howard Hall.
Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general admission.
