Charity Song Raises Over £830 For Harborough Charity

A virtual Christmas charity single released by Harborough’s Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra has raised over £830 – more than three times the fundraising target.

The group is thanking all who downloaded their version of Gaudete!, and made a donation to Market Harborough-based charity VASL at the same time.

The money raised will be used to support those lonely and isolated within the local community and people caring for family members.

The orchestra’s version of  features 14 saxophonists playing six different types of saxophone. The accompanying YouTube video has been viewed nearly 500 times.

Members of the Pheonix Saxophone Orchestra performing the Christmas song

Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra’s Communications Director Jane Smith says: “We’d like to thank everyone who has supported this project and helped us raise this fantastic amount for VASL. Every penny counts and we simply couldn’t have done it without you!”

In particular, Phoenix would like to thank the parishioners of St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Harrington, where some of the saxophonists accompanied an outdoor carol concert just before Christmas, for their generous £124 donation; local band ‘The Arthur Park’ who raised £135 by auctioning a rare copy of their limited edition vinyl single ‘The Life of Stanley’; and local PR company LE16 Communications, who got the ball rolling with a £100 donation.

Maureen O’ Malley, Charity Manager for VASL, said “We are so grateful to Phoenix Sax for this considerable donation to our funds. To produce something which brings such pleasure to those who hear it is a very special gift and we thank all of the musicians and those involved in promoting single, as well as those of you who made donations. The money raised will be used to support those in our community who are lonely and isolated and those who are caring for family members. Thank you again.”

If you’d like to make a donation to the project in support of VASL, you can still do so at justgiving.com/fundraising/PhoenixSax.

Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra are now back rehearsing fortnightly over Zoom. You can find out more on their website www.phoenixsax.org.uk