Non-stop Music at St Mary’s as Redbourn Prepares for 36-Hour ‘Musical Marathon’ in Aid of Bereaved Families Charity
St Mary’s is set to host an extraordinary 36-hour Musical Marathon to raise funds for its Charity of the Year, SLOW (Surviving the Loss of Your World) — a charity dedicated to supporting families after the death of a child.
From 12 noon on Friday 6th June through to midnight on Saturday 7th June, musicians from across the village and further afield will come together to perform a continuous stream of live music in what promises to be a vibrant and heartfelt community event.
The non-stop programme will feature a diverse mix of musical styles and genres, ranging from string quartets, operatic arias and even a piano concerto through to a folk band, singer-songwriter and local jazz groups .
On Friday 6th we will be welcoming choirs from St Luke’s and Redbourn Primary Schools, recorder groups, a string/piano trio, and pianist Owen Benfield.
In the early evening Redbourn Folk Club will be entertaining us, followed by some cool jazz vibes from London performers Lumarie and Luke, leading into instrumental jazz from a local band!
Finishing off Friday will be Steve Warner, local vicar and folk singer with his self penned contemporary offerings.
After that some brave souls will continue through the night with folk, instrumentals and vocals. As Saturday morning breaks the lovely Lesley will tinkle the keys and organist Paul will take over the mid morning slot.
We look forward to a more classical theme in the afternoon with a String Quartet, a Madrigal group, The Five Of Herts Wind Quintet, and a piano/organ duet from the Cranmers.
Simon our equally superb organist will begin the evening’s programme, followed by the Haywards on piano and vocals.
Opera is next on the menu from Alex and Micheila, and finally our very own St Mary’s Choir will perform a set of light music for our enjoyment.
Finally from 10 – midnight we invite you to stay, chat, and party to some live background music.
Visitors are warmly encouraged to drop in at any time throughout the 36 hours to enjoy the music and soak up the atmosphere.
Chair of the organising committee, Stephen Boffey, said:
“We wanted to create something truly special that brings the community together through music while raising funds for a cause that has touched many families here in Redbourn. SLOW is a small charity doing incredibly important work, and we hope this event will not only support their mission financially, but also shine a light on the invaluable service they provide to grieving families.”
There will be refreshments available throughout, including tea and cakes during the day, hot dogs at lunchtime, a gourmet burger van, and a licensed bar in the evening — with all proceeds going directly to SLOW.
Entry is free and donations are welcome throughout the event. All are invited to come along, stay for a while or settle in for the full marathon, and be part of a musical celebration with a powerful purpose.
Look out for a full programme of performers coming soon.
Please sponsor the musicians via their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/st-marys-music-marathon
St Mary's Church, Redbourn 