Music Features

Having got back from Kenya I really wanted to throw myself into a project that would raise the profile of Christian Aid in Cambridgeshire. Something that had been floating around my head since I started the job at Christian Aid was organising a chamber music concert at a local church in aid of the charity.

Beautiful music in a lovely setting

It's taking place at 7.30pm on Friday 14th December at St John's Church off Cathedral Square, right in the centre of the city.

Eleanor Turner and her harp

It combines my passion for music with my passion for the poor. My colleagues were surprised by my choice to do this, as I am an eighteen-year-old who enjoys clubbing! But people can’t be put into categories that easily!

I set about finding musicians to play some of my favourite festive music, and was lucky enough to find Eleanor Turner, a Stamford-based harpist who has won international awards, and Christina Johnston, a fabulous young soprano studying singing at Guildhall (but originally from Suffolk).

My passion for music has always been with me and I allowed myself the luxury of choosing most of the music for the programme. It's largely 20th Century and includes pieces by Benjamin Britten and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Organiser Kate Harris

I am holding the concert in a church in the heart of Peterborough. The city has been knocked for its lack of cultural life but since I have moved here I have found lots of arts-related events to entertain myself, including the Arts cinema, an operatic society, and poetry and drama reading events.

It is on this basis that I feel that Peterborough is more than ready for a fairly highbrow (but not snobby!) concert such as this. I would invite anyone who is interested in this sort of music, or is just curious to see what it is like, to come along, as well as people who want to have a great time raising money for a worthwhile cause.

I’d also like to point out that we will be providing festive refreshments for all who come along!

Kate’s concert is at 7.30pm on Friday 14th December, 2007. It is being held at St John’s Church, Cathedral Square, Peterborough. Donations of £10 a ticket are invited, or £5 for concessions. All proceeds will go to Christian Aid. To book tickets, phone 01733 345755 or email Peterborough@christian-aid.org
For more on harpist Eleanor Turner, go to www.eleanorturner.com