Kolstein Music concert benefits musicians

We really believe in our hearts that we really need to support our musicians right now who don’t have the space and the audience to be able to perform and do their art.”

Manny Alvarez, President and owner of Kolstein Music

In the new performance venue inside Samuel Kolstein & Son Violinmakers on Foxhurst Road in Baldwin, three well-known artists performed an intimate concert last Friday that was live-streamed via social media as a fundraiser to support musicians who have been out of work since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The benefit concert was streamed via Kolstein’s YouTube, Facebook and Instagram pages, and virtual attendees watched a performance by Harvie S, a New York City bassist; Matt Wilson, a jazz drummer from Baldwin; and Roni Ben-Hur, a jazz guitarist.

“For not just us, but all the Broadway musicians and even rock groups, everything’s been put on kind of a hold,” Harvie said before the concert.

Many events have been canceled to reduce the spread of Covid-19, and musicians whose livelihoods largely depend on gigs and freelance work are losing critical opportunities to support themselves.

In response, Kolstein Music launched a Musician Relief Fund, with proceeds from the campaign benefiting the performing artists and groups. In addition to raising funds, the concerts provide a space for audiences to support and watch live performances from the comfort of their own homes, Kolstein’s representatives said.

To donate to the fund, visit the GoFundMe page. Those interested can also follow the live-stream events at Kolstein.com/livestream. The performances will take place each Friday afternoon.

“We’re thankful that Kolstein & Sons here are not only into doing all the great stuff they do with their instruments,” Harvie said, “they want to help musicians, and they have a really strong commitment to do that, and that really makes them special.”

“Artists, we don’t stop practicing,” Ben-Hur said, adding that musicians are not sitting at home binge-watching television shows. “The world needs to get it, that we are working throughout all this time. We are working, we are learning, we are practicing.”

Wilson said he hopes people will start to realize how important the arts are.

“Without any of this going on for them — television, music or anything during this part of it — especially when everybody was really locked down, what would they have?” Wilson said.

His sentiment echoed a meme circulating on the internet since the early days of the pandemic, implying that the arts are often regarded as an after-thought, non-essential. “As you binge-watch your 13th entire series or read a book or sleep to music, remember — remember that in the darkest days when everything stopped, you turned to artists.”

Manny Alvarez, president and new owner of Kolstein’s, who took over for Barrie Kolstein in the winter, thanked the performers as well as the viewers who tuned in to the live-stream to watch the first concert of the series.

“As you know, Covid has changed the way we’ve done everything now, and we are so excited to try and generate funds in order to bring artists back to work and performing on a live stage,” he said. “We really believe in our hearts that we really need to support our musicians right now who don’t have the space and the audience to be able to perform and do their art.”

“It’s a welcoming space,” Wilson said to future artists set to perform in the space, “and I think you’ll feel at home.”

Kolstein also gave a shout-out to the staff of Kolstein’s who set up all the necessary equipment for the concert.

“It’s been such a pleasure being here tonight,” Harvie said. “Don’t be afraid to donate to us starving musicians.”