Family concert benefits Shooting Star Children's Hospice
| Other local events | |
Children's choir performance at Our Lady of Grace & St Edward Chiswick Catholic Parishes Children's Choir perform Pippin in aid of Microloan Foundation If you have a local event you'd like to promote - click here |
|
| Participate | |
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter |
Over £500 was raised for charity last weekend by the Chiswick Catholic Parishes Children’s Choir. The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice is the beneficiary of the donation and will use the funds to provide respite, home hospice, and end of life care to West London children.
The concert was held in Our Lady of Grace and St Edward Catholic church, and was one of over 150 events organised by parishes, as part of the ‘Open the Doors’ Westminster Diocesan Festival of Faith.
The church provided a relatively cool sanctuary on one of the hottest afternoons of the summer so far. The choir includes children from the parish, performed for a large and receptive audience and demonstrated their value to the local community.
Around 35 children took part and gave heartrending choral and solo performances of an eclectic programme which encompassed show tunes, folk songs, classical pieces and chart hits. The multi-denominational theme was highlighted by the range of music including traditional songs from Israel and Africa.
What is it about children’s voices that pluck so poignantly at the heart strings? The pitch, purity and sheer joy of performing was communicated with conviction by the six-to-twelve year olds. Passers-by as well as parishioners were touched by the emotion of the concert and all available tissues were dabbing away tears of joy right through the performance.
The concert featured special guests in the form of six Year 7 and Year 8 pupils from Cardinal Vaughan, the London Oratory, and Gumley House schools, who are all alumni of the children’s choir. They also demonstrated their passion and commitment to musical performance.
Clare Delmar Lynch, choir director said, “All these singers are talented and committed young musicians and this is reflected in their performance today. It is wonderful to see children helping other children in this way.”
She added, “of course none of this would be possible without the support of Monsignor Jim at Our Lady of Grace and the parents of our young singers who show their dedication every week.”
Clare is launching a major new music initiative with the BBC Singers focused on amateur singing. To find out more contact clare.delmar@bbc.co.uk
Annie Garfoot