The objective was straightforward: create an event from scratch that raised a minimum of $350 to be donated to a local service organization. With the task before them, the freshmen members of OrangeSeeds, a first-year leadership empowerment program, set out to create an event rivaling those of past years. And in the eyes of OrangeSeeds’ members, they did.

As both a member of the organization and a saxophonist for the band NONEWFRIENDS, freshman music major Jackson Siporin had a vision to hold a benefit concert through OrangeSeeds. His vision became a reality, and the OrangeSeeds Benefit Show will take place on Friday at 8 p.m. in Panasci Lounge. All proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity.

“To be doing this for OrangeSeeds and performing, it’s kind of like a double bonus,” said Siporin, who started planning the event back in November.

Being the only music major in this year’s OrangeSeeds class, Siporin reached out to student musicians across campus — including bands Settle for Sadler, FLOTUS and singer Julia Goodwin — to perform. Each act said they were thankful for the opportunity to support the cause through their music.

“I’ve never done a show like this before, so it’s satisfying to put my name on one that has a purpose,” said Peter Groppe, the lead guitarist for NONEWFRIENDS and FLOTUS.

Freshman Jack Ramza, who is also a columnist for The Daily Orange, said that after the OrangeSeeds participated in the “Shack-a-thon,” in which they built and stayed in wooden shacks on the Quad for a night to raise awareness for homelessness, the team voted to donate all proceeds to Habitat for Humanity.

In the past, Orange Seeds benefit events have included board game and karaoke nights. With the addition of live music by student groups, this year is the first time the OrangeSeeds members have attempted “an event of this magnitude,” said freshman OrangeSeed Morgan Eaton.

Realizing they wanted to separate themselves from past years, the OrangeSeeds team reached out to Student Association, who were able to aid them in renting out Panasci Lounge and meet necessary safety protocols.

Each of the bands performing has their own distinct sound. Groppe described the sound of FLOTUS as a mixture between pop, rap and spoken word.  Settle for Sadler, on the other hand, categorizes their music closest to the sub-genre of “Prog-Indie,” said lead singer and rhythm guitarist Rylan Mortensen.

 

Goodwin, a junior music major, said she will be performing covers by artists such as Thundercat, Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes. She performs with four other instrumentalists, and added there’s a chance she’ll perform an original song at Friday’s show.

Goodwin was a quarterfinalist on America’s Got Talent, and in November performed a tribute to Aretha Franklin on NewsChannel 9 in conjunction with Funk ‘n Waffles.

“I’m excited to be part of this event,” Goodwin said.  “I think it’s great what OrangeSeeds does to connect people and I think music can provide a safe space to connect people as well.”

Siporin’s band, NONEWFRIENDS, will close out the night.

Siporin said the bands will be set up in Panasci Lounge in front of the crescent-shaped windows overlooking Hall of Languages, with lights strung up to create an intimate vibe for the show.

Although the benefit concert is an accomplishment in of itself, Ramza said, it’s also a precursor to ‘The Big Event,” the largest student-run day of community service at SU. OrangeSeeds organizes ‘The Big Event” every year.

“There’s a lot of stuff to do on campus, but there aren’t enough events where four bands are getting together to actually create something,” Siporin said. “And by coming, you’d be supporting the arts and each band for a good time.”

Published on January 29, 2019 at 9:39 pm