A CONCERT organised by music student Meera Maharaj has raised more than £1,500 for the Warrington Food Bank – plus 18 crates of groceries.
Flautist Meera, a former Lymm High School pupil from Grappenhall, currently studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester put together a quartet of friends from the college to present a programme of music for flute, piano and ‘cello at St Wilfrid’s Church, Grappenhall.
They played works by Brahms, Haydn, Debusy, Dvorak and others to a packed church.
It was the second year Meera had brought friends from RNCM to Grappenhall to perform in aid of the Food Bank and she was delighted the event brought in more money than last year, when some £1,200 was raised.
This year the event was particularly poignant as the musicians dedicated the concert to the memory of local minister and founding manager of the Food Bank Dr John Dolan, who died recently.
Meera said: “He really loved classical music and gave us lots of encouragement. We were very pleased to dedicate our event to his memory, recognising the wonderful work he did for local people going hungry.
“It has been such fun putting the programme of music together and we had a very warm, appreciative audience on the night who were lovely to play for.
“All the performers are my friends from the Royal Northern College of Music and they enjoyed the chance to come away from the city.
“Jeremy and Matt, our pianists, are from Australia and Hong Kong, so they enjoyed visiting the historic villages of Lymm and Grappenhall. They couldn’t believe the contrast with Manchester and enjoyed a well-deserved traditional pint in the pub afterward the concert!”
Ken McDermott, chairman of the Foodbank said: “Meera and friends used their wonderful talents to the full, keeping the audience enthralled, whilst raising funds and stocks for Warrington Foodbank. I am encouraged to see such efforts from young musicians to benefit others. Efforts like these help us provide the 50,000 plus meals that went to local people last year.”
You can still donate to the cause at: http://mydonate.bt.com/events/warringtonfoodbankconcert2015/231938
