Song for the soul, support for the community

By Lethbridge Herald on February 13, 2026.

HERALD PHOTO BY JOE MANIO University of Lethbridge Singers rehearse at Recital Hall, practicing for If Music Be the Food of Love, the annual fundraiser concert at Southminster United Church Friday,supporting local food banks.

By Joe Manio

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge ensembles and folk artist John Wort Hannam bring song and community together in a heartfelt fundraiser for local food banks. On Friday night, the vaulted ceilings of Southminster United Church will fill with harmony — and with purpose.

If Music Be the Food of Love, the annual benefit concert supporting local food banks, returns February 13, bringing together the University of Lethbridge (U of L) Singers, Aurora Choral, the U of L Opera Singers and acclaimed Alberta folk songwriter John Wort Hannam. It is a night where music and generosity share equal billing.

While the melodies soar, the mission remains grounded in something essential: helping ensure no one in Lethbridge goes hungry.

Now in its fourth year, the concert supports three local food banks: the Lethbridge Food Bank, the Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge, and the University of Lethbridge Students’ Union Food Bank.

“This concert responds to the significant needs we see every day at the university and in the broader community,” said Dr. Janet Youngdahl, director of the University of Lethbridge Singers. “It reflects the reality of food insecurity. When students can combine their love of singing with service to their community, everything begins to align — compassion builds community.”

Over time, the event has quietly become a winter fixture in Lethbridge’s arts calendar — a night when performance and purpose meet. Each year, the concert brings together a cross-section of local talent, blending classical choral repertoire with contemporary folk storytelling — all in service of a common goal.

Food insecurity affects families, students and seniors across southern Alberta, and local food banks report steady demand. Concerts like If Music Be the Food of Love may not solve the root causes of hunger, but they provide immediate, tangible support — and remind the community it can respond together.

The university ensembles form the backbone of the program, offering music that reflects themes of love, compassion and connection.

“We chose repertoire that we hope will capture listeners’ hearts,” Youngdahl said. “One selection is a jazz setting by Lars Jansson that asks the singers to build a wave of energy, accompanied by piano and percussion. It’s vibrant, exciting, and embodies both emotional depth and collective strength.”

For students, the performance carries lessons beyond the stage.

“Music is more than entertainment — it’s a way of connecting meaningfully. Singing can help us grieve, acknowledge pain, celebrate and experience joy. And it shows students how the arts can serve the community in tangible ways,” she said.

While new voices join each year, some students have performed since the concert’s inception.

“They care deeply about the community and are proud to be part of something that makes a difference,” Youngdahl said.

John Wort Hannam adds another layer to the evening.

“I love choral music and really enjoy working with Janet,” he said. “And performing for this event is a way to give back. As a child, my family was helped by the Food Bank, and this is my way of saying thanks.”

This year, Hannam’s songs will celebrate the many sides of love in keeping with Valentine’s season.

“For this event, I’ll be singing songs around the many sides of love. When you put the right words in the right order and put them to music, it moves people in ways ordinary conversation sometimes cannot,” he said.

The concert takes place Friday at Southminster United Church, with proceeds directed to local food banks. February can be a lean month — financially and emotionally — for many households. In that context, an evening of shared music becomes more than entertainment. It is a reminder that compassion can be communal, and that generosity grows when it is shared.

As harmonies rise and voices fill the church, If Music Be the Food of Love transforms song into sustenance, showing that in Lethbridge, music isn’t just heard — it’s felt, shared and lived.

Event Details:

Friday, February 13, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.

Southminster United Church, 1011 4 Ave. S.

Entrance by donation (suggested $20 or pay what you can)