Family and friends filled the Lakeside Presbyterian Church in support of the SF State Chamber Singers and the University Chorus as they performed a benefit concert on Friday.

The Harvest Concert was held on Nov. 7 and more than $900 was collected for the San Francisco Food Bank. The music chosen included songs from the musical "West Side Story" and German songs such as "Nanie." SF State music instructors George Vance and David Xiques conducted the hour-long performance.

“This is a really important performance because the food bank is really hurting,” Xiques said. “We are really excited to do this, especially because of the state of the economy.”

This year, in particular, is an important one for the food bank to receive donations. According to Marguerite Nowak, the advocacy and education manager for the food bank, the amount of people coming to them for food has increased 7 percent since last year.

“We have seen an increase in the people that we help because of the rising food and gas prices,” Nowak said. “The holidays are our toughest and busiest time of the year because donations have been decreasing.”

Although every can of food or box of cereal helps, Nowak said money helps a lot more. With the donated money, the food bank workers can buy a lot more food and reach the goal of buying 40,000 pounds of food to help aid everyone in need.

“We are really excited and appreciative that San Francisco State is helping us out,” Nowak said. “I’m just sorry that none of us can attend the concert.”

Xiques said that this is the fourth year the SF State chorus has given a fundraising performance for the San Francisco Food Bank. The concert always takes place in November, because it marks the beginning of the holidays.

The choir and chamber singers have been working in their classes since August to put together the nine-song set, and were very anxious to perform. According to Xiques, the concert was held at the church because the acoustics are better, which makes the choir sound better.

“I am really excited to perform because since I am a freshman - it’ll be my first college concert,” Alexandria Ruiz, 18, said. “I’m the baby of the class and I love it, so this should be fun.”

Jessica Mieran, 22, had two solo performances during the concert and was anxious in anticipatation of singing for an audience. “I know that this concert benefits the food bank, so I’m excited to sing for such a worthy cause,” she said.

“I really enjoyed the concert. It was beautiful,” said Leyla Alvarez, 45, who is a friend of one of the singers. “It’s really refreshing to see such beautiful music being performed.”