GRAND TOTAL FROM GRAND SETTING
More than £2,500 was raised for the East Midlands Region Lord’s Taverners by 32 musical pupils from Foremarke Hall, Repton’s Preparatory School.
The young musicians performed in the historic Painted Hall at Chatsworth House for a prestigious and appreciative audience who enjoyed wine and canapés after the concert.
The performances were an eclectic mix involving the school’s Jazz Band, String Quartet and Chamber Choir as well as a number of accomplished soloists. Particularly well received were police officers, alias Matthew Jankinson with cape and helmet and Billy Marshall, a junior officer also with a helmet and pocket book, for The Policeman’s Song by Arthur Sullivan; and the choir’s moving performance of Danny Boy.
Director of Music at Foremarke Hall, Susan Bloor, said: “Our concert took place in the Painted Hall – a breathtakingly beautiful room with the most wonderful acoustics. The orchestra sat at the foot of the grand staircase. This was a most special concert and I would like to thank all of the musicians who performed superbly well – I was SO proud of you!”
The concert was staged in association with the Lord’s Taverners (LT) and proceeds are now being donated to its charity.
The Lord's Taverners is the official charity for recreational cricket and the UK's leading youth cricket and disability sports charity. Richard Merriman, Headmaster at Foremarke Hall, played cricket for Derbyshire’s 2nd XI in the 1980s and is a member of the East Midlands Region LT.
Commenting, Mr Merriman said: “This was a tremendous evening with music by our extremely talented young musicians, led by our Director of Music Susan Bloor, in a truly wonderful setting. We are extremely pleased with the amount raised.
“It was an outstanding concert – a fact supported by the standing ovation our musicians received – and I congratulate them all! To now learn we raised so much is simply the icing on the cake, it is wonderful!”