A concert of high energy folk music in Chacewater Village Hall on 25 November raised £700 for the Cornwall Music Therapy Trust. Four rousing Cornish bands brought the crowd of 160 to their feet and had them dancing joyfully to jigs, reels, hornpipes and polkas together with belting out some great Cornish songs. The line-up featured Davey & Dyer, Ma Polaine’s Great Decline, Salt and Sky and the headline act of 3 Daft Monkeys who ended the evening with their unique brand of high-octane foot-stomping music. All bands generously played for no fee.
Masterminded by Emma Packer, a music therapist from Par, the event supported a charity which has supported music therapy in Cornwall since 2006. Music expresses emotions which are too powerful for words – and for people who find communication difficult, music can provide a window into the world of interaction and can help change lives. The Cornwall Music Therapy Trust has given over £300,000 for the provision of music therapy in Cornwall and has launched many projects In special and mainstream schools, work at Little Harbour Children’s Hospice, the Children’s wards at the Royal Cornwall Hospital and adult mental health venues across Cornwall.
This concert joins an increasing list of events supporting music therapy. On 17 December the Duchy Singers and St Mewan Sinfonia are performing Handel’s Messiah in St Mary’s Church Penzance; on Sunday 18 December, Camerata Kernow are staging a Christmas Candlelit Concert of Carols from 16th century to modern day in support of music therapy at Roselidden near Helston; the Cadgwith Folk Festival in July 2017 will also be supporting the Cornwall Music Therapy Trust.
The magic of music helping those in Cornwall who need it most!
Photo: Organiser Emma Packer hands over cheque to Robin Bates, representing the Cornwall Music Therapy Trust.
