Classical Action's fundraising endeavors are not limited to producing events. As the voice of the entire performing arts community in the fight against AIDS, we have developed a number of other ways for those within the community to raise additional funds. These initiatives continue to provide further mediums for those who want to offer their time and talent to the cause.

Recording projects

Since 1994, acclaimed pianist/composer Fred Hersch has produced four CDs to benefit Classical Action and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. These recording projects, whereby artists generously donate their time and talent, have helped to raise well over $200,000 for the AIDS cause.

Last Night When We Were Young: The Ballad Album (1994), Mr. Hersch's first benefit CD, featured performances ranging from solo piano to quintets. This was followed by Fred Hersch & Friends: The Duo Album (1997), on which Fred played duets with many of his favorite jazz instrumentalists and vocalists. Next came The Richard Rodgers Centennial Jazz Piano Album (2001), with solo performances of Rodgers classics by six talented and diverse jazz pianists. On his latest effort Two Hands, Ten Voices (2003), the concept was simple; Fred invited ten of his favorite female vocalists to perform a duet with him. Fred Hersch describes the experience of recording this CD: "As on all the previous discs, all of the performances and production costs have been donated – a touching tribute to the willingness of the artists and the recording community to get involved and make a wholehearted and creative contribution."

A virtual "who's who" from the world of jazz have contributed their time and talent for these benefit CDs: Karrin Allyson, Leny Andrade, Kenny Barron, Andy Bey, Judy Blazer, Jane Ira Bloom, Gary Burton, Ann Hampton Callaway, Dave Catney, Bill Charlap, Sandra Dudley, Tommy Flanagan, Benny Green, Drew Gress, Jim Hall, Tom Harrell, Fred Hersch, Lee Konitz, Diana Krall, Joe Lovano, Kate McGarry, Marian McPartland, Jessica Molaskey, Jane Monheit, Mark Murphy, Oscar Castro-Neves, Tom Rainey, George Shearing, Janis Siegel, Carol Sloane, Luciana Souza, TanaReid, Toots Thielmans, Bobby Watson, Norma Winstone, and Phil Woods.

For more information about our recording projects, email us at classicalaction@bcefa.org.

PACT (Presenter and Artist Challenge Teams)

Are you a presenting organization or artist looking for a way to contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS? The Presenter and Artists Challenge Teams (PACT) is a way you can become more involved. PACT is an exciting concept whereby artists agree to donate a percentage of their fees from a performance, the amount of which is matched by the presenting organization and is in turn shared by Classical Action and a local AIDS organization in the presenter's community. PACT is the brainchild of pianist André Watts, who came up with the idea for his 1994-95 performance season. Many performing arts organizations have responded enthusiastically to his challenge, raising significant funds. Among these are the Philadelphia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and the Baltimore, Toledo, Omaha and St. Louis symphonies, to name just a few.

PACT has been replicated throughout the United States with a multitude of artists and presenters. Participating presenting organizations have included San Francisco Performances, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts/Mostly Mozart Festival, the Krannert Center for the Arts (Urbana, IL), Stanford Lively Arts and the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts (Green Bay WI). Other artists who have participated include Joshua Bell, Chanticleer, the Emerson String Quartet, Thomas Hampson, Evgeny Kissin, Midori, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, among many others.

For more information on how you can become involved in the PACT Initiative, email us at classicalaction@bcefa.org.

Collegiate Outreach

The Collegiate Outreach Initiative is a program whereby Classical Action teams up with students to produce concerts benefiting Classical Action and local AIDS service organizations. Classical Action/Oberlin (CA/O) was the first collegiate chapter of Classical Action, founded in spring of 2000. Since its founding, CA/O has produced two concerts, featuring eighth blackbird, Oberlin alumni, and guest performers, raising more than $6,000 for the AIDS cause. According to CA/O Co-founder and Oberlin alum, Hudie Broughton, "Having witnessed the success of the Oberlin event, and the enthusiasm of my fellow college students, I believe Classical Action collegiate organizations will thrive on campuses across the nation."

If your school or university does not have the capability to produce benefit concerts, there are still countless ways to help in the fight against AIDS: direct audience appeals, lobby sales and silent auctions, special collections, host an AIDS Awareness Day, a bowling night, etc.

For more information on how you can become involved with the Classical Action Collegiate Outreach program, email Chris Kenney, Classical Action's Project Coordinator at Kenney@bcefa.org.