Concert to raise money for church organ

Reporter: Laura Wild
Date online: 13 March 2010

Church-goers were treated to a special lunchtime concert today (Saturday 13 March 2010) as part of an on-going fundraiser for the re-build of the organ at St Chad’s Church on Sparrow Hill.

The musicians, ‘Triawd Adlais’, three students - Catherine Landen , violin, Jonathan Guy, clarinet and Leanne Cody, piano -  who all study music at the University of Manchester, performed for fifty minutes for an appreciative audience.

Philip Lowe, Director of Music at the church, came across the trio through contacts with the university and organised a lunchtime concert to attract people into the church and to raise money as part of a series of concerts organised throughout the spring months.

The funds for the organ currently stand at £87,000 but another £13,000 is needed to reach the target.

The church hopes to have raised £100,000 for the organ rebuild by the end of the year.

Mr Lowe said: “Lunch time is a good time to get people into the church and at this time of year it provides a really good setting.

“So far we have done very well raising the money for the organ but we still have a bit of a way to go.

“It is important have these types of concert in the church and we will continue with them even when the funds for the organ have been raised.”

Violinist Catherine Laden who studies on a joint programme between the University of Manchester and the Royal Northern College of Music said: “This is really good practice for us because we have our exams coming up and it also really nice to be helping the church.”