Cadenza Choir Concert to raise funds for Bangkok music school and orchestra
Thu 25th April 2019
Cadenza Choir member, Sarah Aitken's nephew, Stephen Maniam, is a Scottish music teacher, double bassist and composer who spent 4 years volunteering at the Immanuel Music School in Bangkok. He is currently involved in cycling round the world - something which has taken 8 years so far - raising money and awareness of the Immanuel School and Orchestra. The Cadenza Choir hope to add to monies raised so far with their concert planned for May 10th, 7.30pm at Toll Gavel United Church.
The Immanuel School and Orchestra was started at Immanuel Lutheran Church in a deprived community in Klong Toey, Bangkok. Today, 100 children aged 7-20 are involved in musical activities, including learning to play a variety of musical instruments and music theory. The school has changed the lives of hundreds of children as it provides happiness, opportunity and hope, an alternative to drugs and crime, a family atmosphere and a removal of societal divides.
The orchestra is now led by exciting British conductor Jonathan Mann and it now performs to the wider Bangkok public and collaborates with international musicians. The Junior Orchestra is now conducted by a Klong Tuey lad - Varin Artvilai - proving that music can build bridges, develop confidence and uncover undiscovered aptitude.
