The City of Chester Band under conductor Philip Mottershead, recently helped to raise over £7,000 towards the earthquake relief funds for Haiti.

Joining forces

The concert at Chester Cathedral saw the band joined by the Chester Karamba Samba Band, City of Chester Male Voice Choir, A Handbag of Harmonies (a female choir with pink handbags and pink feather boas!), Farndon & District Brass Band (conductor Kelvin Redmile), Chester Ladies’ Choir and the Kelsborrow Choir.

Granada news presenter Lucy Meacock introduced the audience to Rev Marcus Torchon, a Haitian Methodist minister currently attached to a group of Wirral churches. Lucy invited Marcus Torchon to describe the impact of news of the earthquake upon him and his family, so distant from relatives and friends.

Warm music

Even though Chester Cathedral on a chilly winter’s evening wasn't the warmest place to be entertained, the well-muffled audience of over 800 people enjoyed the music making that included performances of Widor’s 'Toccata in F', played on the cathedral organ Philip Rushforth, 'Someone to watch over me' by City of Chester Band and 'I will follow him'by Farndon & District Band

The concert concluded with a number of joint items, with the finale being a wonderful rendition 'The World in Union'.