Howard Jones to headline BENEFIT’s 2024 Crossroads Music Festival  Multi-platinum international synth-pop star to perform at event benefiting nonprofits in Loudoun County LEESBURG, Va. (July 2, 2024) – BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival, an event to raise funds for nonprofits serving children in Loudoun County, will feature British singer, songwriter and electronic music pioneer Howard Jones.                                           Howard Jones   BENEFIT’s 2024 Crossroads Music Festival will take place at multiple venues in downtown Leesburg, Virginia, Friday, Sept. 20, and Saturday, Sept. 21.   Howard Jones will headline the festival with an intimate solo piano performance at Tally Ho Theater, located at 19 W. Market Street in Leesburg, on Saturday, Sept. 21.   Jones has been a constant presence on the international touring scene for the past four decades, playing live in a number of different configurations, including intimate solo shows and dates with his full high-tech band se

  Winner of BENEFIT's 2024 Crossroads Music Festival T-shirt design contest announced LEESBURG, Va. (June 17, 2024) – BENEFIT is pleased to announce the winner of the design contest for the organization’s official 2024 Crossroads Music Festival T-shirt — Samantha Rathjen of Leesburg, Virginia.   Photo caption: “Harmonic Unity,” created by Samantha Rathjen of Leesburg,  is the winning design for the official T-shirt of BENEFIT’s 2024 Crossroads Music Festival.  BENEFIT  is a coalition of musicians and community leaders uniting people with music to raise funds and awareness for nonprofit organizations serving children in Loudoun County.    Contest guidelines stated that artwork design submissions should be relevant to music, musicians or the mission of BENEFIT.   In the description that accompanied her design, “Harmonic Unity,” Rathjen stated she explored “the power of music to connect and inspire.” The handprint symbolizes “BENEFIT’s influence in supporting children through music in

BENEFIT announces grant recipients   LEESBURG, Va. (June 11, 2024) – Six nonprofit organizations have been selected as recipients of grant funding from BENEFIT.   Established in 2017,  BENEFIT  is a coalition of musicians and community leaders uniting people with music to raise funds and awareness for nonprofit organizations serving children in Loudoun County.    A total of $17,000 was awarded among the six nonprofit organizations. The grant funding was raised from proceeds of BENEFIT’s 2023 Crossroads Music Festival.   Recipients of BENEFIT grant funding include: Ryan Bartel Foundation , $2,900;  Dulles South Soup Kitchen , $2,900;  Food For Neighbors , $2,900;   A Hand Up - NOVA, Inc., which operates the  Northern Virginia Diaper Bank , $2,800;  Loudoun Education Foundation , $2,750; and  Loudoun Youth, Inc. , $2,750.   “The work our nonprofits do here in Loudoun is more important than ever as families face new post-pandemic challenges,”  Amy Bobchek, co-founder of BENEFIT, said. “ W

Call for musicians for BENEFIT’s 2024 Crossroads Music Festival Musicians to be showcased in event in downtown Leesburg   LEESBURG, Va. (March 12, 2024) – BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival is returning to downtown Leesburg Friday, Sept. 20, and Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. The organization is extending a call for musicians to perform during the Saturday showcase portion of the event.   BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival features music performances from regional musicians and bands for an event that helps support nonprofit organizations.   Established in 2017,  BENEFIT  is a coalition of musicians and community leaders uniting people with music to raise funds and awareness for nonprofits serving children in Loudoun County.   Musicians and bands who are interested in offering their time and performing a 60-minute showcase set on Saturday, Sept. 21, are encouraged to submit their information through the  online application form  on BENEFIT’s website ( https://BENEFIT.live ) no later than 

BENEFIT’s nonprofit grant application process opens March 11   LEESBURG, Va. (Feb. 26, 2024) – BENEFIT, a coalition of Loudoun County musicians and community leaders, will be accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations beginning Monday, March 11.    Nonprofit organizations that serve children in Loudoun County are encouraged to apply. Applications are due no later than 5 p.m., Friday, April 12, 2024.   BENEFIT’s mission is to unite people with music to raise funds and awareness for nonprofit organizations serving children in Loudoun County.   A total of $17,000 will be available to nonprofits for grant funding.  Grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $2,000 – $4,000. The money for the grants was raised from proceeds of BENEFIT’s 2023 Crossroads Music Festival. To qualify, applicants must: be a 501(c)(3) organization that provides services to children in Loudoun County complete the online application form found at  www.BENEFIT.live  no later than 5 p.m., April 12,

BENEFIT announces SHAED as headliner for its 2023 Crossroads Music Festival  Multi-platinum D.C.-based trio to perform on Friday night of live music event benefiting nonprofits in Loudoun County LEESBURG, Va. (August 17, 2023) – BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival is back and bigger than ever. Expanding to two evenings of live music, Sept. 15 and 16, to raise funds for nonprofits serving the Loudoun County community, the event will feature SHAED , a multi-platinum Washington, D.C.-based trio, headlining the Friday evening segment.                                     SHAED SHAED — Chelsea Lee, her husband Spencer Ernst, and his twin brother Max Ernst —spent much of 2018 and 2019 supporting their global breakout single, “Trampoline,” which has nearly 2 billion streams to date, has received feverish radio play — #1 on the Alternative and Rock Airplay charts — and has been used in multiple television shows. The trio has toured worldwide both as a headliner and at festivals, including perfo

LEESBURG, Va. (August 8, 2023) – In 2016, a small group of Loudoun County community members had the idea to use live music to bring people together to raise awareness about the need in the community and foster a culture of giving. Now, after several years, multiple live music performances, and approximately $134,000 in proceeds raised and distributed to nonprofit organizations serving Loudoun County, BENEFIT announces it has officially become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.   BENEFIT , a coalition of musicians and community leaders, was  established  in 2017 as a program that was supported and guided by several organizations while the group grew and began forming its own groundwork to become a nonprofit organization.   “Similar to many startups, BENEFIT began as a small program that was nurtured within larger organizations,” Ara Bagdasarian, BENEFIT co-founder and president, said. “However, through continuous growth over the years, we reached the point where we were able to branch

Live music event to benefit nonprofit organizations serving children in Loudoun County (Performer list updated July 24, 2023) LEESBURG, Va. (June 20, 2023) – Over 30 musicians and bands will be performing original music for BENEFIT’s 2023 Crossroads Music Festival. The event will be held at 12 different venues in downtown Leesburg from 5-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.    Established in 2017, BENEFIT is a coalition of musicians and community leaders uniting people with music to raise funds and awareness for nonprofit organizations serving children in Loudoun County.    Performances will take place at multiple venues allowing festival attendees to customize their own evening of music entertainment. Each artist will perform a 60-minute set at their designated venue.  “This is the fourth year BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival will be held at venues in downtown Leesburg,” Ara Bagdasarian, BENEFIT co-founder, said. “We are excited to be able to showcase the amazing musical talent in our re