Students hit high notes to raise charity cash at church date

Jul 1 2009 by Lynda Nicol, East Kilbride News

TALENTED young musicians from all over Britain rallied round last month to ensure a charity concert held in the town’s Claremont Parish Church was a great success.

The St Leonards event was organised by two local university students, Brianna Robertson and Christopher Barr, with the help of some of their musical friends.

It was the third annual concert to be organised by the former Claremont High School pupils and it raised the superb total of £765 for their chosen good causes.

The cash is being divided among the church, whose congregation kindly gave the use of the hall for the concert, Christopher, to enable him to attend the Nation Young Choir of Scotland’s summer programme, and Capability Scotland, a charity which helps children with disabilities and their families.

The evening’s programme included items from Newo Ikkin, a band from Airdrie who performed toe tapping classics such as "Eye of the Tiger" and "Fat Bottom Girls", and local band Jacob and the Wolf, who performed Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash and Tree hugger from the popular 2008 movie, "Juno".

There were also popular classical numbers performed by the 2008 BBC Chorister of the year Charlotte McKechnie, Martha Hayward, Alison Gormley and a familiar face to East Kilbride audiences, St Leonards man Jonathon McDade.

Following the concert Brianna told the News: “We received a lot of positive feedback from the audience, who very much enjoyed the diverse musical talent we brought together. Most hope we will be back to do the same next year.”

Brianna said they had originally started their concerts to give young musicians, especially classical musicians, a platform to perform, where before, in East Kilbride certainly, there never was one.

Brianna added: “I am spleased to say Claremont Parish Church has allowed us to do just that as well as raise money for some very worthwhile causes.

“I would like to express our thanks to all those who came along and supported us and we hope we can improve the concert and make it an even bigger success next year.”