Our Summer Concert at Cheltenham Town Hall on June 26th was one of the most exciting and emotional events we have ever staged.
There were tears when Ukrainian mother and daughter Ala and Nadia Postolatii sang a series of haunting folk songs, accompanied by an ensemble of young cellists from Gloucestershire Academy of Music. The music had been arranged by ex-student Joe Silmon-Clyde and conducted by inspirational musical director Glyn Oxley.
There was laughter when one of the youngest members of Rachel Bowen’s Cheltenham Youth Choir came running on to the stage at the last moment.
And there was awe when oboist Louise Sprekelsen gave a virtuosic performance of Oscar Navarro’s Legacy Concerto accompanied by GSO and stunningly choreographed by Peter Anderson. The dancers from Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Balcarras School were Vivian Ge, Natasha Yao, Lulu Faulks, Angelina Tong and Archie Thomas.
Recording of the Legacy Concerto.
Staged in aid of the refugee charity GARAS, the near capacity audience included more than 50 Ukrainian parents and children, who have settled with hosts in the county. There were local dignitaries – the Deputy Mayor of Cheltenham Councillor Matt Babbage and his wife Susie and Canon Michael Irving DL and his wife Clare and CLC principal Eve Jardine-Young DL with creative director Patricia Stead.
It was certainly an afternoon to remember and raised £400 for GARAS’s work for refugees.
