World-class musicians in concert for poverty charities
Some of the country’s leading classical musicians are coming together for a concert in aid of Hackney Foodbank and the Mary Ward Legal Centre.
Organised by food bank volunteer Helen Sheldon, the event takes place at St Giles Church in Cripplegate on Saturday October 17th and features violinist Benjamin Marquise Gilmore (Leader of the London Symphony Orchestra), viola-player Rosalind Ventris (a soloist and chamber musician and Director of Music at the Yehudi Menuhin School), cellist Laura Van Der Heijden (2012 BBC Young Musician winner) and renowned harpsichord player Steven Devine.
The conductor will be Graham Ross (Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge) and the vocal soloists are former Clare choral scholars, now pursuing successful careers with some of London’s top professional choirs. All of the artists have waived their fee for this charity concert.
In all, more than 50 professional and talented amateur musicians will be performing Monteverdi’s Beatus Vir, Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in Eb K364, Jacquet de La Guerre’s Sonata in D Minor, a little known gem, and Handel’s Dixit Dominus.
Helen, who used to work as a caseworker at the Mary Ward Legal Centre, is a keen amateur violist and has lots of friends in the arts – she often opens her home to rehearsing musicians. She’s organising the concert to mark her 70th birthday.
She said: “I’ve chosen glorious pieces of music, which are easy to listen to – they’re pieces I have performed in the past, but have always wanted to have another opportunity! This concert will be joyous – it’s music to make you smile, performed by some of the country’s most talented musicians.”
It’s a family affair, with Helen’s husband Richard (an amateur bassoonist) manning the bar (there’s no bassoon part!) and two of their children supporting (Will on French Horn and Laura as Event Manager).
Helen added: “Both of the charities benefiting from this concert are close to my heart – both have caseworkers who help people out of poverty, supporting with debt, housing, benefits and more. I thought I had seen it all during my time at Mary Ward Legal Centre but at the food bank I come across shockingly sad stories.”
St Giles is one of London’s few remaining medieval churches, having survived the Blitz. It sits in the heart of the modern Barbican development.
Tickets cost £20 and can be purchased at www.tickettailor.com/events/hackneyfoodbank/2299597. 100% of the income from the box office and refreshments will go to the charities.