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.
Meet the Musicians
The Full Programme
| Time | Performer | Refreshments Available |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 6th June 11.30-12.00 | St Mary’s Bellringers | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 12.00-13.00 | Choir of St Luke’s School, Redbourn (including interactive workshop with Recorder Friends) | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 13.00-13.30 | Terence Atkins: Organ | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 13.30-14.30 | Redbourn Primary School Recorder Group (including interactive workshop with Recorder Friends) | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 14.30-15.00 | Recorder Friends Showcase of music from Baroque to present day played on a family of recorders. | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 15.00-15.30 | Terence Atkins: Organ | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 15.30-16.15 | Alan & Ann Bolton and Simon Pusey: Violin, Viola, Voice, Piano | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 16.15-16.45 | The Sitting Room Singers: folk songs from around the world | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 16.45-17.30 | Alan & Ann Bolton and Simon Pusey: Violin, Viola, Voice, Piano | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 17.30- 17.45 | Owen Benfield, Piano | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 17.45-18.00 | Sarah Smith on behalf of Emily, Piano | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 18.00-19.00 | Anna Le Hair & Simon Pusey: Grieg Piano Concerto arranged for piano and organ | Food deliveries available – pre-order here, Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 19.00-20.30 | Redbourn Folk Group | Food deliveries available – pre-order here, Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 20.30-21.45 | Lumarie & Luke: Jazz Duo, with interval music from Graham Richards, piano | Food deliveries available – pre-order here, Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 21.45-23.00 | Revd Steve Warner: Folk, singer-songwriter | Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Fri 6th June 23.00-00.00 | Andy Thurston & John: traditional folk violin & guitar duo | Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 00.00-01.00 | Jan Nelder: Piano classics | |
| Sat 7th June 01.00-02.00 | Terence Atkins: Organ | |
| Sat 7th June 02.00-02.30 | Jan Nelder: Piano classics | |
| Sat 7th June 02.30-06.30 | Helen & Stephen Boffey, Paul Vernon: various, including piano, organ, Gilbert & Sullivan songs… | |
| Sat 7th June 06.30-07.30 | Kate Ford & Simon Pusey: Violin and piano/organ | |
| Sat 7th June 07.30-08.00 | The Ford Family: vocals, piano, drums, clarinet | |
| Sat 7th June 08.00-09.30 | Lesley Poulton and Mandy Phillips Light piano music from musicals. Recorder duets and solo recorder with piano. | |
| Sat 7th June 09.30-10.00 | Teddy Tots Mums Choir | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 10.00-11.00 | Paul Vernon: piano & organ | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 11.00-12.00 | Jenny Akroyd: Saxophone – a family-friendly programme accompanied by Paul Vernon | Tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 12.00-12.30 | Young Instrumental Solos: Ella, Megan, Rose, Florence & friends | Hot Dog Stall, tea, coffee & cake in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 12.30-12.50 | Rev’d Rachel Wakefield: Flute Concerto accompanied by Simon Pusey | Hot Dog Stall, tea, coffee & cake AND bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 13.00-14.00 | Redbourn String Quartet | Hot Dog Stall, tea, coffee & cake AND bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 14.00-15.00 | Madrigal Group | Tea, coffee & cake AND bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 15.00-16.00 | Five of Herts Wind Quintet | Tea, coffee & cake AND bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 16.00-17.00 | Damian Cranmer: Organ – commemorating 400th anniversary of Orlando Gibbons’ death | Tea, coffee & cake AND bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 17.00-17.45 | Andy Thurston & Simon Pusey: Violin & Piano | Total Cow Burger Van more info, Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 17.45-18.45 | Simon Pusey: Organ | Total Cow Burger Van more info, Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 18.45-19.30 | St Mary’s Church Choir: Choir and Junior Choir favourites | Total Cow Burger Van more info, Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 19.30-20.00 | Claire Hayward: solo classics for piano ranging from Chopin to Gershwin | Total Cow Burger Van more info, Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 20.00-20.45 | Alexandra McPhee and Micheila Connolly: Lieder and French song and Piano solos | Total Cow Burger Van more info, Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 20.45-21.00 | Interval Music TBC | Total Cow Burger Van more info, Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 21.00-21.30 | Clive Hayward accompanied by Claire Hayward: a selection of comic songs from Flanders and Swann, Tom Lehrer and the music hall | Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 21.30-22.00 | Community Sing-a-long with St Mary’s Choir | Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| Sat 7th June 22.00-23.30 | Party in the Transept with background music continuing until 23:30! | Bar open in the Transept Hall |
| MARATHON ENDS!! |
Food Orders for evening performances
There are lots of delicious food options available throughout the 36 hour performance. Find out more about how to order here
Can you sponsor the musicians?
This 36-hour Musical Marathon isn’t just for fun/insomniacs…. we are hoping to raise a HUGE amount for our St Mary’s Charity of the Year, SLOW supporting bereaved families.
Please do sponsor our musicians in aid of this fantastic charity:
Sarah from Redbourn whose family has been supported by SLOW in recent years has written the following powerful words about the impact of the charity:
When your sibling dies, you can be left feeling incredibly isolated and in a very dark, lonely place. SLOW has been a light for our son since our daughter died in August 2022.
They provide sibling support groups (Sibs) that bring together grieving children who are struggling to make sense of this new world and family dynamic that they find themselves in. The sessions are really sensitively run and encourage the children to actively include their sibling in creative ways. The sessions are run quarterly and are all put on by the charity.
The things that our son has made help him feel a connection to his sister; a wreath at Christmas, painted stones in the Spring, a herb planter in the Summer and a lantern for Autumn. Each session runs for 3 hours and includes reflection time, time to share memories, photos and special objects and time to play sports or games with each other.
What these sessions offer is more than creativity, it’s feeling connected in grief and most importantly, that you’re not alone in surviving the loss of your precious sibling. You get to bring home everything you create and the whole session is charity funded.
It is vital that these sessions are continued and available to all who need them. Harry was 11 when his sister, Emily, tragically died. Now 14, he shares his reflections on the impact of the ‘Sibs’ sessions run by SLOW:
“I find the Sibs workshops really useful because I can dedicate that time to honouring my sister, Emily. The adults that run the groups are so kind and empathetic towards all of our experiences. They realise that it’s sometimes difficult for us to speak about our siblings so they talk to us as we’re making things or encourage us to share special photos or objects which makes speaking easier. They work hard in order to make the sessions the best for us.
My favourite creation has been the wreath at Christmas because there were so many resources to choose from so then I could make it special and linked to Emily.
It’s good to socialise with people who are going through a similar loss to you because you feel connected, even though it’s because of a horrible experience.
Please support the Music Marathon because it will raise money to pay for more sessions, resources and staff. Thank you SLOW for everything you do.”
St Mary's Church, Redbourn 