Michael Collins charity performance raises £5,000

On Friday January 25th Michael Collins, the internationally acclaimed clarinettist, gave a towering performance of clarinet classics at Champs Hill, West Sussex on behalf of Children on the Edge. Mary and David Boweman, owners of Champs Hill, one of England’s most prestigious concert halls, said that it was the finest clarinet concert they had ever heard.

The British clarinettist Michael Collins is one of the most sought-after and successful wind players of his generation. The musician has displayed a dazzling virtuosity and sensitive musicianship since his early triumph as a 16 year old, when he won the woodwind prize in the first BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.

Since then he has been a soloist for many orchestras including the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France and the Philadelphia, NHK Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Leipzig Gewandhaus, City of Birmingham Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, BBC Symphony, and Philharmonia orchestras. In recent years he has won increasing regard as a conductor and in September 2010 assumed the post of Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia.

Accompanied by David Quigley, a remarkably talented pianist in his own right, Michael played pieces from Brahms (E Flat Sonata), Weber (Grand Duo Concertant), Saint-Saens, Poulenc, Messager (Solo de Concours) and Bizet /Milton (Fantasy). Page turner Josh Grubb, music scholar at Bedales, said he was in awe of their musicianship and donated his fee to Children on the Edge because he felt privileged to be part of such an amazing evening.

Michael Collins generously donated his fee, and the Bowermans not only opened up their wonderful facilities but sponsored all the champagne and drinks for guests at the event too. 100 guests were privileged to attend such a magnificent occasion, held in such beautiful surroundings, with canapés of the highest quality provided by Stuarts.

The concert raised over £5000 through the generosity of sponsors, guests and donors. These funds will make a tremendous difference in our work with forgotten children, living on the edges of society. We are incredibly grateful to all involved.

If you’d like to find out more about fundraising for our work, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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