I'm asking people who know Esther (aged 14) or her mum, Adele Mills, or who might just want to support a Shrewsbury girl (from a single-parent, low income family) achieve her musical ambition. Esther's working towards Grade 6 Sax at the moment, and wants to do the exam this summer term; but her current saxophone apparently is only good enough for grade 4-5. (At grade 6 you're judged a lot more on quality of tone produced, and on a better instrument, she'll find that easier and more achievable / more pleasurable to play). She currently plays in the Shropshire Training Youth Wind orchestra, and after their Easter concert on 6th April, she'd really like to go up a level to the next orchestra for grade 5/6 players upwards - the Shropshire Youth Wind Orchestra. With this, she hopefully will have the chance to go on their annual trip to Germany, where of course they have a sociable time, but they play public concerts throughout - so a really fantastic experience it would be lovely for her to be equipped for. It seems bonkers to us that the cost of the instrument has gone up so much - the last one cost £250 ! So it is a very unexpected cost that can't be met... We will encourage her out to do some busking, but it will take too long to raise £1,895 on Pride Hill... Even if you can make only a small contribution - if we can get enough donors - it can help - and maybe she'll give you a tune or two as a thank you ?! If it makes you angry that a youngster needs money to play music, that's what has motivated me to take this unusual step. Sue