The Bismarck Mandan Symphony Orchestra is one of about 240 orchestras across the nation responding to the economic situation.

The League of American Orchestras has combined with Feeding America for the first national food drive by America's symphony orchestras. The organization has come to be called Orchestras Feeding America, and its goal is to unite the nation in contesting hunger everywhere.

Last December, the national charity Feeding America conducted a survey of 160 food banks nationwide. It discovered that food banks now are reporting a 30 percent rise in the local demand for emergency food assistance.

Feeding America is an organization working nationally with large corporate donors to supply local food banks with grocery products.

The local food drive is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Belle Mehus City Auditorium. The drive also will double as a concert.

Those attending are asked to bring nonperishable food items to the concert.

The concert will be featuring the winner of the Bismarck Mandan Symphony Orchestra's 2009 Young Artist Competition, Emily Eichele of Driscoll.

She plays French horn and also has participated in a handful of honor bands around the region, including the Northwest Festival in Minot, Dickinson's Northern Plains Festival, University of North Dakota Honor Band, Valley City State Ployhar Honor Band, Augustana Honor Band, and North Dakota All State Band.

She will be performing the first movement of the "Concerto No. 1 Opus 11" in the key of E flat major by Richard Strauss, for horn.

Other songs being performed Sunday include: "Light Cavalry Overture" by Franz Von Suppe and Symphony No. 8 in G Major by Antonin Dvorak.

Saturday also happens to be the birthday of J. S. Bach, so to celebrate the life of the composer, the orchestra will play one of his chorale preludes.

"We all are feeling the effects of our current economic condition, but we cannot let that stop us from helping our neighbors in need," said Murial Lippert, the executive director of the Bismarck Mandan Orchestral Association.

"Our orchestra's music engages and uplifts people, bringing hope and healing to our spirits. With this project we can do even more to support the community that has supported us for so long and nourish both body and soul."

At the concert, musicians, staff members and volunteers will help collect non-perishable food items. The Community Action Program Region VII Food Pantry will receive all nonperishable food items collected at the food drive.

Tickets for the concert are available by calling 258-8345. More information about the symphony and future concerts can be found at www.bismarckmandansymphony.org.

Nationally, Orchestras Feeding America was originally inspired by the upcoming movie "The Soloist." The film, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., will be released by Paramount Pictures to theaters nationwide on April 24.

The film is based on the true story of a highly talented, Juilliard-trained string player whose mental illness spurs him to live among the homeless on the streets of Los Angeles.