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Student Life
Date March 10, 2026
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Student-led benefit concert celebrates Providence, raises $20,000 for local nonprofits

Organized by Brown University students, the “Thank You PVD” concert brought performers, students and Providence residents together for a night of music, gratitude and collective healing.

Daiela Simon-Seay on stage
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Senior Daiela Simon-Seay and bandmates performed the closing set at the "Thank You PVD" benefit concert on March 6. All photos by Nick Dentamaro/Brown University.

Crowd watches performances at the Thank You PVD benefit concert
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“It was important for us to create a space where people could simply enjoy each other’s presence,” said sophomore volunteer Luca Gwathmey. “We wanted everyone to have fun, let loose and connect with others, especially people they’ve never met.”

Student musicians perform at Thank You PVD benefit concert
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The “Thank You PVD” benefit concert held at The Strand Ballroom and Theatre featured a stacked lineup of Brown student musicians and local performers.

Organizers gather on stage
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Organized by sophomore Theodore Coben and senior Ellison Mucharsky and supported by the mental-health nonprofit No Empty Seats, the show was a student-led expression of gratitude and an opportunity to give back in a tangible way.

Spectator watches performances at benefit concert
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Hundreds of Brown and Providence community members attended the show. All proceeds from ticket sales and donations will benefit the Brown Loves Providence initiative, with funds distributed to local nonprofit partners.

Lobby of the Strand
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The owner of the Strand Ballroom and Theatre, one of the largest live music venues in Providence, donated the space “without hesitation” for the evening, said Theodore Coben, one of the show’s organizers.

Jabberwocks perform at the Strand
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The Jabberwocks, an iconic student a cappella group on campus, performed at the benefit concert.

Drummer performs at the Strand
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With the exception of DJ Lefty, all of the performers at Friday's benefit concert are students at Brown University.

Students offer free hugs at show
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Students offer free hugs to concert attendees at the Strand Ballroom and Theatre in Providence.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — On a Friday evening in early March, hundreds of people gathered in downtown Providence to dance, cheer and let the stresses of the week melt away. They were drawn together by a shared purpose: celebrating the people and places in Providence that offered extraordinary support to the Brown University community in the wake of the mass shooting on campus on Dec. 13.

The “Thank You PVD” benefit concert, held on Friday, March 6, at the Strand Ballroom and Theatre, featured a stacked lineup of Brown student musicians and local performers. Organized by sophomore Theodore Coben and senior Ellison Mucharsky, the show was a student-led expression of gratitude and an opportunity to give back in a tangible way. 

DJ Lefty performs a set at the Strand
The night opened with a set by DJ Lefty — also known as Allen Pires, a Brown employee who works in the Engineering Research Center café when he’s not behind the turntables. 

“On Dec. 14, it felt like it didn’t matter if you were a student at Brown or a stranger from the furthest corner of Rhode Island — everyone came together in community and partnership to support each other,” Coben said. “It’s time that we make that a more regular occurrence. We need those kinds of moments to happen even when — maybe especially when —  it’s not spurred by tragedy.”

All proceeds from ticket sales and donations will be distributed to local nonprofit partners through the University’s Brown Loves Providence initiative. Through ticket sales and a pledge by Brown alumni to match donations, Coben estimated that the concert has raised about $20,000, with donations still streaming in.

“This is something run by Brown students, but it’s for the entire Providence community,” said senior Mia-Nathalie Pridgen, one of the volunteers involved in the show’s organization. “It’s for us to be able to show our appreciation, our love, our thanks, and also give back financially.”

From a small show to a citywide celebration

The inspiration behind the benefit concert grew from a similar show Coben organized in January, when many students returned to campus for the first time since Dec. 13. Held at AS220 in Providence, that show created a moment of connection for students easing back into campus life and planted the seed for what would become “Thank You PVD,” Coben said.

“I believe in the all-powerful healing ability of music, and I just really wanted to share that with as many people as possible,” Coben said. “Seeing how well that event went, I thought, ‘Why not scale this up?’” 

“ On Dec. 14 ... everyone came together in community and partnership to support each other. We need those kinds of moments to happen even when — maybe especially when — it’s not spurred by tragedy. ”

Theodore Coben 'Thank You PVD' concert co-organizer and Brown sophomore

With help from nearly 75 volunteers from across Brown, Providence and the national student mental-health nonprofit No Empty Seats, he and Mucharsky mobilized to book performers, reach out to businesses and neighbors across Providence, and promote the show. It was an all-hands-on-deck effort, and the support was “overwhelming in the best way,” Coben said.

An invaluable element of that support was the venue itself. The owner of the Strand Ballroom and Theatre, one of the largest live music venues in Providence, donated the space for the evening, Coben said.

On stage, the musicians matched the venue’s caliber. The night opened with a set by DJ Lefty — also known as Allen Pires, a Brown employee who works in the Engineering Research Center café when he’s not behind the turntables.

“Everyone in the community knows and loves him,” Coben said.

Before Brown senior Daiela Simon-Seay and bandmates closed the concert out, the audience saw performances by senior Tabatha Rose; juniors Wil Rowland, Kate Javerbaum and JD Gorman; student a cappella group the Jabberwocks; and the Island Rovers, a band of student musicians.

“It was important for us to create a space where people could simply enjoy each other’s presence,” said sophomore volunteer Luca Gwathmey. “We wanted everyone to have fun, let loose and connect with others, especially people they’ve never met.”

For Coben, the night underscored the countless gestures from people that he and other students may never know personally.

“The whole event is meant to recognize people and organizations who helped out, but I still don’t think we’ll be able to touch on even 1% of them,” he said. “There were neighbors, volunteers and strangers who stepped up in ways that often go unnoticed. Those good Samaritans weren’t looking for recognition, but they deserve it… It’s brought me closer to Providence in ways I never expected.”

Through ‘Brown Loves Providence,’ Brown community members turn appreciation into action

Brown University students, faculty and staff are uniting to thank and honor Providence and its residents, businesses and officials through acts of appreciation including coordinated giving, local spending and volunteerism.

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Tags
Brown and Providence Campus Life

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