A musical hub in the Royal Borough...
Self and Alexandra on a street in Chelsea
Photographer Hannah Gates
Soprano Alexandra Kennedy and I started Chelsea Concerts in April 2009 with the dual aims of bringing Classical Music to a wider audience in an accessible and fun way and to raise money for important causes, including The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, SSAFA, The Rifles Care for Casualties, The Redevelopment Trust, The Red Cross Haiti Appeal and, on tuesday next week, The Rhinology and Laryngology Research Fund.
Raising money for these charities has been an education in so many ways, not least in learning about the causes they seek to help and raise awareness for.
We have had the huge privilege of performing in several of London's most beautiful buildings, including Chelsea Old Church, St Augustine's Church Queensgate and Holy Trinity Sloane Square.
For our first concert we chose to perform Pergolesi's Stabat Mater at Chelsea Old Church, an intimate setting, for The Cystic Fibrosis Trust. This village-like church was filled to the rafters with guests, the band, conducted by Hugh Brunt, and the extraordinary Baroque music of Pergolesi. Our good friend Simon May, who lives with Cystic Fibrosis, spoke before the concert in a sensitive, amusing and moving way about the condition. I will never forget his drinking champagne while leaning on an oxygen tank. He is a stalwart fundraiser for the CF Trust and has more energy than anyone I know.
Alexandra rehearsing with the band and Hugh Brunt at Chelsea Old Church in 2009 for Pergolesi's Stabat Mater in aid of The Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Chelsea Old Church, our first venue
Hugh Brunt and the band at Chelsea Old Church
Our Christmas Concert at Chelsea Old Church in 2009
A sea of faces guests having drinks in the Petyt Hall
Chelsea Concerts attracts a hugely diverse crowd and happily, we hope, combines music, champagne and socialising. Luckily, because Alexandra is rather beautiful, the whole thing also looks rather glamorous and Alex has had worn more posh frocks than I've sung evensongs!!
Self out-glamoured at our first concert...
...and again at the second...
ditto...
...not giving up!...
...well, how do you equal that...answers on a postcard!
At the Bonsall Garden Opera...had to be in the Church due to typical Derbyshire Summer weather...
Alexandra and I have had the very good fortune to perform alongside some brilliant musicians, including violinist Victoria Lyon, trumpeter Simon Desbruslais, harpist Ophelia Hohler, conductor Hugh Brunt and, on tuesday next week, soprano Meeta Raval and the amazing Duo Diez. There have also been many others, which I will save their blushes and not mention here.
Rehearsals in Holy Trinity Sloane Square
Concert for St George's Day
Trumpeter Simon Desbruslais
Concert for The Cystic Fibrosis Trust with special guest and speaker Jenny Agutter
Christmas Concert 2011 with Susannah Hope, Tim Lowe, Ali, Self and Ophelia Hohler pictured.
Victoria Lyon
Chelsea Concerts, aided by the most marvellous committee of family and friends, has raised over £12,000 so far for various charities. Putting on a concert costs a lot of money, one has the church to pay for, the drinks, printing and, finally and most importantly, the musicians. We hope to get sponsorship in the future so we can give more to charity.
Tuesday 11th December this year is going to be a corker of a concert at Holy Trinity Sloane Square, with Cardiff Singer of the World Finalist soprano Meeta Raval, the brilliant Duo Diez and Lynn Carter on the piano...I will also attempt to play Hark the Herald on the famous Willis organ at Holy Trinity.
For tickets for the Christmas Concert on tuesday and information on what we do please go to www.chelseaconcerts.com
One of Yvonne Vander Heul's wonderful paintings of our Christmas Concert in 2010
All images in this blog are under the copyright ownership of Oliver Gerrish
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