The Amber Trust chair of trustees Lady Julia Walport says the finale to this year’s Annual Concert will be hard to beat when the event returns in 2022.
More than 100 people watched the inspiring live show in The Wathen Hall, St Paul’s School, Barnes on Sunday. Many more followed the two-hour celebration of music on the internet thanks to a live stream sponsored by Caterlyst.
The annual showcase for visually impaired and partially sighted young musicians – some of the Trust’s most talented beneficiaries – bounced back in style after last year’s 25th anniversary extravaganza was forced exclusively online due to the pandemic.
(left to right) Singers Eleanor Stollery, Lydia Beech and Lily Bartlett perform a Queen Medley at The Amber Trust Annual Concert 2021 Violinist and Rotary Young Citizen Award 2021 winner Poppy McGhee with Amber Trust found Adam Ockelford on Sunday Amber Trust beneficiary Lydia Beech rehearsing a Queen Medley for The Amber Trust’s Annual Concert at The Wathen Hall, St Paul’s School, Barnes on Sunday
The show closed with a Queen Medley – arranged by Joanne Wicks and Abigail Dance – that featured all 15 performers on the bill and had only been rehearsed hours earlier.
“How do we beat that?,” said Julia. “It was absolutely fabulous. Congratulations to you all. None of the performers had played that together until about midday, today.”
“Our performers are absolutely remarkable and they have given us the most amazing afternoon.”
Highlights of the concert included an ensemble performance of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, while Rotary Young Citizen Award 2021 winning violinist Poppy McGhee, 16, was also honoured for raising close to £10,000 for the Trust over the past decade.
Amber patron Derek Paravicini astounded the audience with a series of off-the-cuff renditions of popular tunes from Bach’s Air on a G String to Nathan Evans’ Wellerman sea shanty.
You can view the concert via The Amber Trust’s YouTube Channel here 2021 Amber Trust Annual Concert – YouTube