Celebration and renewal.

Since 1990 anyone has been able to come along and listen to a high-quality saturday lunchtime concert in Chesterfield Library Theatre. I co-founded them to provide musical performances that were free of charge and at a time of day when transport wouldn't be an issue. All the concerts are organised voluntarily and they run solely on audience donations. No funding of any sort is received, but Derbyshire County Council give the superb venue free of charge. They are well-supported with an average of 100 people coming along each week. I organise 16 concerts a year and have done this for 30 years. To celebrate this, and to ensure the series can continue well into the future, I am raising £9,000 to buy a replacement for the worn-out grand piano in the Theatre. The piano is used in 80% all of the lunchtime concerts and is a vital community resource - many other groups use it for their events too. Over the years I estimate almost 450 Saturday lunctime concerts have been performed of every style (classical recitals, choir concerts, jazz sessions, folk groups, orchestras, young performers platforms, etc) using over 5,000 musicians and listened to by close to 50,000 people. They are truly community events and a cultural lifeline for so many people and especially the older generation. Most of the performers are local (within 50 miles) and many have been several times, as they enjoy the experience so much. I have personally performed as pianist, singer or conductor in at least 120 concerts as well as dealing with all the administration and attending/physically running every concert. The piano is the centre-piece of the concerts and we can only continue if we have a new instrument. The funds have to be raised by public donations. Please donate to this appeal and secure free music for the future - come to a concert if you are in the area and see what it's all about. Find details of the concerts in Chesterfield library or online at: www.visitchesterfield.info.