At our most recent concert, we explored themes of war and peace in a series of choral, vocal and instrumental pieces. We were very grateful to receive a substantial grant from the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust to support the concert’s artistic budget. Meanwhile, we were delighted to be able to help a worthy cause, thanks to the generosity of our NLC community, via our retiring collection at the end of the performance.
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust funds United Kingdom Registered Charities operating in the UK in the fields of the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement. In July 2025, its Trustees kindly agreed to make a one-off grant of £2,500 towards the artistic budget of our 22 November concert. In September it gave us a great boost to be going into our new season knowing our concert would get the financial support needed.
The David Nott Foundation was our nominated charity for the retiring collection at that concert. As we performed a programme of music based around the theme of war and its devastating consequences, it was very important to us that we could support a charity that aids the victims of war by training doctors to operate in disaster and conflict zones. We were delighted that we raised a total of £1,164.75 thanks to the generosity of those in our NLC community who contributed.
Last, but certainly not least, at the concert we were very pleased to present a silver salver, amongst other gifts from many choir members, to our accompanist Catherine Borner to mark twenty years of her playing with us. To celebrate the occasion, Catherine also performed Finzi’s Eclogue for Piano and Strings on the night with the Meridian Sinfonia, conducted by our Musical Director Murray Hipkin.
Thank you very much for all your hard work and dedication Catherine, and we look forward to working with you in the years to come!
