24 February 2023
On Saturday, February 4, 2023, Savor the Sound returns to 28 Event Space in Kansas City with an immersive one-night-only celebration that fuses music, food, and visual artistry to enchant guests and raise money for Build Trybe, an educational program of Cornerstones of Care.
The event will be headlined by highly-decorated James Beard award-winning Chef Celina Tio and Calvin Arsenia, internationally-acclaimed singer, harpist, and author. They will be joined this year by VJ Herbert, a composer and sound healer, along with his 10-person new-age gospel and soul choir, Xion Sound Waves. Other featured artists include Evan Tedlock, an animation artist who will project holographic animations inspired by the food and music, Tiffane Friesen, a social practice artist known for her flower mandalas, and Alivia Nuñez, who has built custom glass and wood pieces specifically for the event. Chris Dong is the creative director for Savor the Sound.
“It’s the same story told by different people,” said Theo Bunch, Build Trybe founder and director. “It’s very collaborative.”
A key moment of the creative process for Savor the Sound takes place at The Belfry, a local restaurant owned by Chef Tio. Members of the choir start the day by performing several songs for Celina, each to be the root of one of the evening’s courses. Then, Celina disappears into the kitchen and emerges with two dishes aimed to spark a different sound for the group’s musical interpretation.
VJ and the other singers take their time observing, tasting – even smelling – the eclectic dishes to fully experience them from start to finish, taking notes of the ingredients, textures, and garnishes.
“I wanted to give VJ something spicy to work with,” said Celina. “I always say, ‘great things don’t happen until you put yourself in uncomfortable situations out of your comfort zone.’ His zone is so chill, so I wanted to see what he would give me if I inspired him with spice.”
In the days following the tasting, members of Xion Sound Waves write two songs that will be performed live at Savor the Sound. The musicians won’t try the dessert until show night, after which they will have 20 minutes to write a brand-new composition and perform it for the audience.
This year, Savor the Sound falls on the same weekend as the Lunar New Year, so the event will have a strong Asian influence. The holiday symbolizes reunion and rebirth, encouraging growth and new beginnings – which fits well with the event theme, “Flourish,” and the mission and vision of Build Trybe.
“We rarely get the chance to be present – with our food, our sense of smell, our ears, our conversations,” said Arsenia. “I’m really proud that we get to gather, in support of a great cause, to genuinely enjoy the cross-section of the finest food, music, and visual stimulation this country has to offer! There’s nothing like it. It’s truly magical.”
For those less familiar with Build Trybe, there will be numerous opportunities during Savor the Sound to connect with the program and the youth impacted by it.
Students involved with Build Trybe will work alongside Celina and other professional chefs to prepare, plate, and serve some of the food. During the live auction, guests will bid on a selection of items, including handmade products created by the building trades students. Each attendee will receive a packet of native seeds put together by students in Build Trybe’s conservation landscaping program.
Guests will watch a video highlighting Dylan, a graduate of the conservation landscaping program and an employee of Heartland Conservation Alliance, a Build Trybe partner organization.
“Our youth are dealing with things that most adults would struggle with – placement disruption, lack of support, and lack of community,” said Theo. “Any time a youth graduates with one of my instructors, that is a moment of celebration.”
Savor the Sound is now in its fifth year, and the event planning team hopes to capture the hearts of a new group of people and raise $80,000 for the Build Trybe program.
“Savor the Sound is a celebration of what we’ve done the year before, and it’s planting the seed and building the foundation for the year to come,” said Theo. “I want people to leave feeling like they are part of something bigger – like they are building a strong place for our youth and a strong Kansas City.”
Visit the Savor the Sound event page to purchase tickets or sponsorships. Or sign up to volunteer at the event. If you cannot attend but still want to support Build Trybe, you can donate on our website.