named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Forgotten Voices
A song cycle project that sets prose feedback from shelter clients to music; premiered one new song per month in shelters starting in 2019, with support from Carnegie Hall
Music Kitchen Concerts
45-60 minute informal chamber music performances by professional classical musicians held in homeless shelters and drop-in centers
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Community Music Performances & Education 2 activities
- Collaborates with national and international musical ensembles for shelter performancesPartners with renowned musical groups such as the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Carnegie Hall to deliver high-quality musical performances to homeless shelter clients, enhancing artistic reach and impact.
- Provides live music performances to homeless shelter clientsOrganizes and presents live concerts featuring professional classical musicians for homeless shelter clients in New York City, Los Angeles, and internationally, including over 100 concerts to date reaching approximately 30,000 individuals. Programming includes both established and emerging artists.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 2 activities
- Commissions and produces the "Forgotten Voices" song cycle from shelter client feedbackCommissions award-winning composers to create original music based on written feedback from homeless shelter clients, premiering one song per month in shelters from January 2019 to March 2020 and culminating in a full song cycle. The project integrates client voices into artistic expression through collaboration with 15 prominent composers.
- Presents world premiere and public performances of the "Forgotten Voices" song cyclePresented the complete world premiere of the "Forgotten Voices" song cycle in a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall on March 31, 2022, in partnership with Carnegie Hall, and conducted additional performances as part of broader outreach.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Distributes recorded and immersive audio versions of the "Forgotten Voices" albumProduces and releases commercial recordings of the "Forgotten Voices" song cycle in stereo and Dolby ATMOS immersive sound formats for public and educational distribution, expanding access to the work beyond live performances.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Expands music programming to multiple cities including Los AngelesExtended concert programming to Los Angeles in 2014, collaborating with local musicians such as Glenn Dicterow and Karen Dreyfus to broaden geographic reach and audience engagement.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Offers informal music education and engagement during shelter visitsProvides informal music instruction and interactive experiences during shelter performances, such as demonstrating violin technique using a pen as a simulated bow, to engage shelter clients directly with music-making.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Produces and distributes the short film "Face to Face: Forgotten Voices Heard"Created and released the award-winning short documentary film "Face to Face: Forgotten Voices Heard," which shares the personal stories of four shelter clients and debuted at Carnegie Hall on March 31, 2022.
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Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 1 activity
- Sells branded merchandise to support program operationsSells T-shirts for $25 each and enables bulk resale by organizations, houses of worship, and schools to raise funds for its programs.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$24K
Contributions & grants$24K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$23K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$3K
balance sheet
Total assets$36K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$36K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -44.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Hall-Tompkins | Pres/Bd Member | 15 | $1K |
board members · 3
- Christian Carbone — Board Member
- Patricia Johnson — Board Member
- Terrence Wilson — Board Member
relationships · 90
Who they work with
- 52nd Street Women’s Center Partner — Women’s service center partner collaborating with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
- Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Partner — Collaborated on performances for shelter clients.
- Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Partner — Partnered with members of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields for musical performances.
- Antonio Olivieri Center Partner — Delivered music programs at this New York shelter.
- California Symphony Partner — Has had a past or present partnership with Music Kitchen.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Presented a Forgotten Voices concert together in March 2022.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Supported the commissioning and co-presented the world premiere of the Forgotten Voices song cycle at Zankel Hall.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Supported the commissioning and development of the "Forgotten Voices" song cycle and hosted its world premiere.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Supported the commissioning of the Forgotten Voices Song Cycle.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Venue for the world premiere of the Forgotten Voices song cycle and debut of the film Face to Face: Forgotten Voices Heard.
- Catholic Multicultural Center Partner — Multicultural service center partnering with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
- Central Synagogue (Project Rousseau) Partner — Religious institution program partner (Project Rousseau) collaborating with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
- Cincinnati Symphony Partner — Collaborated on the commissioning of a new libretto for Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale in 2018.
- Cincinnati Symphony Partner — Collaborated with musicians from the Cincinnati Symphony for performances.
- City Gospel Mission Partner — Urban mission organization partnering with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
- City of New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Government — Partnered with The NYC Women’s Fund to support the "Forgotten Voices" album recording.
- Cluster House Transitional Housing Partner — Transitional housing provider partnering with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
- Coeur de Femme Shelter Partner — Shelter partner serving women in collaboration with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
- Concert Artists Guild Partner — Collaborated with artists affiliated with the Concert Artists Guild.
- Concert Artists Guild Partner — Has had a past or present partnership with Music Kitchen.
- Downtown Women's Center Partner — Delivered music programs at this Los Angeles women's shelter.
- Downtown Women’s Center Partner — Service center for women partnering with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
- Elliott Forrest Partner — Peabody award-winning director who co-directed the film Face to Face: Forgotten Voices Heard.
- Emanuel Ax Partner — Collaborated with Music Kitchen, including participation in events and receiving piano donations.
- Fiddler on the Roof Broadway Company Partner — Provided tickets for 25 youth shelter clients in 2016.
- Gateways Music Festival Partner — Partnered with artists from the Gateways Music Festival.
- Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women Partner — Shelter partner serving homeless women in collaboration with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
- Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women & Families Partner — Shelter partner serving homeless women and families in collaboration with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
- Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children Partner — Provided music performances at this Los Angeles shelter.
- Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Families Partner — Shelter partner serving homeless women and families in collaboration with Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul Inc
+ 60 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Arts as Emotional and Spiritual Caremethodology: music-as-therapyBy delivering high-caliber classical music performances in intimate, informal settings, the organization produces emotional and spiritual support for individuals experiencing homelessness, because such experiences nurture hope, love, and inner strength in ways that address the deeper human needs beyond material deprivation.
- Client-Centered Artistic Co-Creationmethodology: participatory-artistic-co-creationBy transforming client feedback and written words into original musical compositions, the organization deepens engagement and validates lived experience, because centering client voices in the creative process fosters dignity, connection, and mutual respect between performers and audiences.
- Strategic Community Integration Through Partnershipsmethodology: community-partner_collaborationBy partnering with homeless shelters, food banks, and social service agencies, the organization embeds live music programming into existing service ecosystems, because integrating the arts into trusted community settings expands access and ensures reach to the most underserved populations.