St. Columb’s School of Music Christmas concert for charity

Louis Fields (Left) and Nicky Morton (Right) - the two founders and directors of the school

St. Columb’s School of Music, based in Derry’s Bishop Street just within the city’s walls, will showcase their Christmas event this year digitally.

The concert can be accessed via their Facebook page this Friday, December 18 at 7:30p.m.

In normal times, the music school aims to showcase three concerts a year to an audience in a live venue. This year, however, with the COVID-19 pandemic stifling all plans, the school has taken the decision to take its Christmas concert to an online audience.

Fourteen musicians will take part in the concert, with every student and tutor from the school joining in, playing every instrument from violin, clarinet, flute, to guitar and harp.

Among the musicians performing will be Ava McGinn, recipient of the school’s first piano scholarship.

When asked if COVID-19 restrictions were hampering practice, Louis Fields, director of the St. Columb’s School of Music, told the ‘Journal’ that “the good thing about the tutors at the school, is that they all perform regularly, which means they all constantly going over their own repertoire.”

Both Louis and Nicky Morton, who is also a director at the school, hope the concert can be an opportunity for those who might otherwise, miss out on hearing a carol service this year. Nicky Morton, said: “Audiences can expect to hear a range of music including all the Christmas classics like ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘Away in a Manger’.”

One of the school's students playing the piano, Jack McGinn.

The Christmas concert will serve as a fundraiser for the music school’s chosen charity this year, Zest. The mental health organisation provides self-harm and suicide counselling in the city, as well as training and therapy for those in need.

Louis and Nicky hope that by partnering up with Zest NI this year, they can spread more awareness about the work the charity does and they hope the public will donate to support their cause.

Donations to Zest NI can be made by following the link: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/somchristmasconcert. The link will remain open until Monday December 21.

St. Columb’s School of Music Christmas concert will be premiered on the St Columb’s School of Music Official Facebook page on Friday December 18 at 7:30p.m. More information about the school can be found at www.stcolumbsschoolofmusic.com