Funding call for rest-home series
A charity is planning to take an organ aboard a truck and an internationally renowned organist on the road for a series of free concerts next month.
While most of the country is feeling the benefits of alert level 2, many elderly cannot enjoy the same freedom without making themselves vulnerable.
Registered charity From Us With Aroha launched a national appeal in mid-May to raise funds to send two organists on two bespoke trucks on a contactless tour, performing for aged and palliativecare homes across New Zealand.
With one concert down, one is planned for the Wellington region in three weeks.
The tour launched at the Ernest Rutherford Retirement Village in Nelson on May 20 to an appreciative crowd of about 200 residents and care workers, and the charity was in discussion about Wellington facilities.
The concerts are free and designed so that only the organist and truck driver are on site, so as to minimise contact.
But they need funding to do so. The total cost of the tour is $200,000, with $10,000 cash for the Wellington region alone, as well as nonmonetary support such as food, accommodation for two, and a secure lock-up for the truck, which had been donated for the month.
Creative New Zealand has supplied $50,000, a quarter of the total needed.
Nelson organist and project creator Mark Patterson will tour the South Island, and internationally renowned organist Dr Kemp English will tour the north.
The project idea came about after Patterson saw a social media clip of American organist Cameron Carpenter performing an organ concert from a bespoke truck at an aged-care facility in Germany.
Patterson’s grandfather was once at Christchurch’s Rosewood Rest Home, which has suffered tremendous loss through the coronavirus, and he was inspired to bring joy to those most vulnerable.
He asked English, his friend and fellow organist, to join.
Wellington-based English is popular internationally as a solo musician. He has been nominated for multiple awards and features regularly on radio in New Zealand and overseas.
English, who was meant to be on tour overseas, said he couldn’t wait to start performing again.
‘‘[Mark] rang me up out of the blue,’’ he said. ‘‘I thought it was an absolutely fabulous idea.’’
It was wonderful to see the smiles on the residents’ faces, and he hoped they were able to do more. ‘‘It’s all down to funding now.’’
The others behind the project are musicians and experts from the events industry who have been severely affected by Covid-19 and who have the equipment and skills to pull this off. Rather than sitting on silent sound gear, they are putting it to good use.
The charity has partnered with national charity Age Concern, and excess money raised will go to their work supporting the elder community.
People can help to bring the tour to their town by donating on the Givealittle page: givealittle.co.nz/ cause/fromuswitharoha.