28th January 2007
St Albans Symphony Orchestra raises more than £1,000 for charity
Musicians in the St Albans Symphony Orchestra succeeded in raising funds for charity to the tune of over £1,000 during the Christmas and New Year period.
The orchestra’s brass players collected over £370 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, playing carols to Christmas shoppers by the city’s clock tower. And a retiring collection at the orchestra’s traditional New Year Concert in St Albans Abbey brought in more than £690 for the Keech Cottage Children’s Hospice, near Luton, which serves Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Conductor, James Ross said: “We would like to thank everyone who gave so generously to these two good causes. Charitable fundraising plays a significant part in the orchestra’s activities, and has included gala concerts in St John’s, Smith Square, London to raise money for the Fund for Epilepsy. We are delighted that the response to this side of our work continues to be so positive.” Keech Cottage and the Grove House Hospice in St Albans will be the beneficiaries when Simon Healy, the orchestra’s principal viola player, shaves off his luxuriant beard to raise even more money next week. Simon is less than £100 away from his minimum sponsorship target of £1,000 and is confident he will need the services of a barber within days.
For further information, contact: David Utting, SASO Publicity Officer, 01727 762855 or 07930 313790.