As rain began to trickle outside, about 200 people poured into the Thursday at 7 p.m. for the
The event—during which the Bringham Young University Sinfonietta played compositions ranging from German classics to English folk ballads—generated approximately $16,000 for the Gilroy Compassion Center. That included a $10,000 gift from the church itself, presented to the Center at the concert’s commencement, according to organizer Jan Bernstein Chagrin.
“We challenge every individual in Gilroy to jump in with us and do something exceptional,” said Pastor Eric Smith, presenting the check amid applause. He then passed around containers for the public to donate additional funds to the recently opened homeless center.
The concert is part of the Sinfonietta’s tour of Northern California and Nevada. Their next stop is Santa Cruz on Saturday. Thursday’s two hour concert included Dmitri Shostakovich’s dramatic “Sinfornia for String Orchastra” and Ernest Bloch’s resonating “Concerto Grosso.”
“The stage and acoustic made it a really nice place to do the concert,” said Kristin Smith, who founded the Community Church 27 years ago with her husband. “All of the performers are really dedicated and talented.”
The concert “is a treat for Gilroy,” said Bernstein Chagrin after the event. The money raised, she said, will help the center accommodate and help more of Gilroy’s homeless population.
Since opening its doors on December 1 of last year, the Gilroy Compassion Center has provided referrals leading to jobs for 67 clients, shelter for 80 clients, and medical or dental referrals to 50 clients, said Bernstein Chagrin. There have been 1,175 visits by locals, 150 unduplicated ones in March alone.
