Unique Concert to Help Stop Goldhawk Block

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Music students help local residents with fund-raising show

A unique Benefit Concert is taking place in Holy Innocents Church on Friday, May 14, with three sets of winners!

Local residents get to hear world class music for a silly ticket price.  Talented young musicians from the Royal College of Music have a much-needed chance to perform.  And the organisers, all local home-owners, are using the proceeds to help save the Goldhawk Industrial Estate, with its 200 jobs, from being turned into a residential development.

A battle has been raging for over a year between Brackenbury residents, Hammersmith & Fulham Council and the developers, London Newcastle.  When H&F gave planning consent for this controversial development, residents, angry at not having their views listened to, wrote to the Secretary of State asking for a Public Inquiry. As a result, Planning Consent has been suspended, and a Public Inquiry will take place at H&F Council, between May 25 and June 2

Residents have hired a barrister to put their case, but legal expertise is expensive, so they need to fund-raise.  This concert is just one of a series of events in the Brackenbury area organised by residents to enrich local life and to help meet costs. 

The idea for a concert came about when Royal College of Music students, who live at College Hall in Goldhawk Road, offered their musical talents in support of their neighbours.

" We are always looking for performance opportunities," says Ingrid Clement, 19 year old violin student.  " We need to play in public, so we are very happy to do what we are passionate about, and help to raise money." 

Ingrid has organised  a string quartet and a piano quintet to perform exquisite pieces by Haydn and Vaughan Williams. 

Her fellow student, Will Kunhardt, 20, is conducting Schubert’s ‘Death & The Maiden’, a gripping and ambitious piece, arranged for string orchestra by Mahler.  Will, who is already conducting four different orchestras, and may well be the Simon Rattle of the future, has an infectious enthusiasm.  " There are so many brilliant performers at the Royal College.  My aim is to magnify each person’s natural character, and to crank up their performance 1000%. "

Come and enjoy world class music on your doorstep, meet some very interesting neighbours, and help keep the character of your area from being over-developed.

The Concert is at Holy Innocents Church, Paddenswick Road at 7.30pm on May 14. Advance tickets cost £8, £10 on the door. Order tickets by e-mail at: goldhawkestateappeal@googlemail.com or phone 056 0254 4057 (local rate).

Michele Jaffe-Pearce

 

April 22, 2010