A HIGHLIGHT OF the Festive season in Moray for several years must move to a new venue because of maintenance work being undertaken at Elgin Cathedral.
The annual ‘Carols at the Cathedral’ concert led by Moray Concert Brass was under threat as the work meant the event could not be held in the shadow of the historic landmark. Now musical director Glen Munro has decided that the show must go on – and managed to relocate the concert to nearby Cooper Park.
“We have always used this concert to raise money for causes close to our hearts, so it was vital that we found somewhere to perform,” Glen told insideMoray, adding: “This year the money raised will be divided between the Teenage Cancer Trust and Sarcoma UK – charities chosen by Abbie Robinson who is a fifth year pupil at Elgin Academy and currently battling Clear Cell Sarcoma, a very rare form of cancer that usually affects young adults.
“Sarcomas are a type of cancer that form in connective tissues with this particular type often growing attached to tendons in the limbs.
“Abbie has so far had twelve operations, six weeks of radiotherapy and months of chemotherapy and is about to start a new treatment. She says she is extreme grateful that the concert is helping to raise money and awareness for these two charities.”
Abbie said she was “thrilled” to have been asked to choose who to give the money to this year, adding: “Both these charities do amazing work and I hope lots of people can come along to the concert and raise as much money as possible.”
The Teenage Cancer Trust helps to improve the cancer experience of young people, aged 13–24 by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. It also trains and funds staff who are teenage cancer specialists and visits hundreds of schools and colleges to raise awareness of cancer and empower young people to take responsibility for their own health.
Sarcoma UK is the only British charity dedicated to all types of sarcoma. They fund research into the disease, raise awareness and provide support and information to those suffering from sarcoma
Mr Munro is urging people to support the concert as they have done in recent years: “These concerts are a great way for our young musicians to give something back to their communities and we hope we can raise both awareness and money for worthwhile groups while providing entertainment to the wider community.”
Moray Concert Brass, which is part of the Moray Council’s Music Centre run by the Musical Instruction Service, do regular concerts throughout the area and have raised money for many charities in recent years including The Alia Coull Foundation, Riding for the Disabled and Breast Cancer UK.
The concert this year will be at Cooper Park by the Library on Saturday, December 19 at 5.30pm.