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A Pleasant Sunday Afternoon
June 18, 2017 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Donation
The benefit of music
Classic Melbourne likes to hear about concerts that are out of town, and we admire musicians who give their time for free for a good cause, (especially as musicians are not among the big earners in our city). Benefits for Malawi seem to pop up quite regularly on our radar so we thought we’d give this one a little publicity.
Benefit concerts usually begin with someone’s passion – the cause, and in this case it’s Ian Lowe, illustrating that popular combination of maths and music. A Melbourne musician and maths educator Lowe visited Malawi in 2005, the first of eight times, and realised that this was an opportunity to help. Being a founding member of the Diamond Valley Singers, he decided to raise money on a regular basis by providing enjoyable Sunday afternoon recitals with a few of his singing friends. Ian will play piano (a top of the range keyboard) and also accompany five singers: Steven Touzel baritone, David Cox tenor, Lesley Walton soprano, Kim Kocijan mezzo-soprano, and Ian Lowe on piano, with guest Diane Morgan. The program is described as A Pleasant Sunday Afternoon, which can be hard to find on a chilly Melbourne day – but we think it’s worth travelling out of the inner suburbs to seek it out.
As fundraising for the Elizabeth Nursery School in Malawi, so far these concerts have raised about $9000, and already $28,000 has been sent. (Apart from bank charges all money supports the teachers, desks, textbooks etc. for the school.) Elizabeth Nursery School is a small school (60-70 pupils) with three classes (Nursery, Year 1 and Year 2). It is located in southern Malawi, in a village called Matawale, on the main road about 15 km north of Zomba. It was started by a couple of Malawians to provide an alternative, better quality education at very low fees – the cheapest private education in Malawi. All early level classes in the government schools in Malawi have over 100 pupils. However these numbers rapidly fall off as primary school continues, as many in such large classes do very little learning.
Another concert is being presented this Sunday (June 18) at 2pm at St Lukes Anglican Church, Frankston. Afternoon tea is being provided by St Lukes. Entry is by donation.
Whether you’re a regular supporter, or have just heard about this little school for the first time today, why not head out on Sunday to find out more. At the very least you’re promised a pleasant Sunday afternoon – and we can’t say fairer than that!
(based on information suppled to Classic Melbourne).