Fundraising concert for young musicians in Venezeula

Violinist Stephen Bryant (leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra), Venezualan pianist Clara Rodriguez and cuatro (a South-American stringed instrument similar to a guitar) player Arnoldo Cogorno are presenting concert at St James' Piccadilly on Thursday 22 November 2019 to raise money for young Venezuelan musicians.

The programme will include Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Grieg's Sonata for Violin and Piano No 2 in G, Op 13, and music by Fritz Kreisler, Brahms, Johannes Brahms, plus John Williams' Schindler's List. There will also be a selection of Venezuelan music and music by South American composers. As a complement to the Beethoven sonata, actress Susan Porrett will read Beethoven’s 'Letter to the immortal beloved'.

The aim of the concert is to support of young Venezuelan musicians who are in desperate need of essential accessories for their instruments. These talented young musicians need new and used violin, cello and double bass strings, and reeds for wind instruments. With this event, Clara Rodriguez hopes to raise awareness of the difficult situation these students face and this concert is a way of collecting donations of these essential accessories and money to pay to have them couriered to Venezuela. Donations have already been received from leading violin maker and dealer Florian Leonhard, Adrian Warwick Stringed Instruments and violinist Pierre Frappier.

Venezuelan pianist Clara Rodriguez won the 'Teresa Carreño' Scholarship that enabled her to travel to London to study at the Royal College of Music under Phyllis Sellick. She made her debut playing with the Simón Bolívar Orchestra under the baton of José Antonio Abreu. Stephen Bryant is the Leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, a role he has held since 1992.

Full details of the concert from Concert Diary, tickets from Brown Paper Tickets.