A packed audience recently witnessed some of the most superlative singing in our Church during this concert in aid of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young.

At the start of the evening MHR Director of Music, Kathy Underhill, introduced CRY representative Phil Eastty who described the important work of this organisation.

The first half featured the tenor Robert Murray who sang a selection of English songs including works by Purcell, Butterworth, Gurney, Britten and Andrew Wright’s “The Bliss of Solitude”. Robert, who was accompanied by pianist Joanna Smith, is well-known in the classical world, performing at the Proms and with the ENO as well as in numerous concert halls in Europe. He was a school friend of former Most Holy Redeemer parishioner James Patterson in whose memory the concert was held, James having died suddenly at the age of 28 in September 2005.

In the second half the combined chorus of sixty incorporating both MHR choirs plus church and choral society singers from all over Essex sang Andrew Wright’s beautiful “A Requiem of Peace”, directed by Kathy Underhill and accompanied by the composer on the organ. The principal soloist was Pippa Moreton.

Through the wonderful support of The Most Holy Redeemer Parish and the many visitors who attended from afar, the concert raised £1,515, which will be used in James’ memory to assist the vital work of CRY in screening young people for potential cardiac problems.

We had the presentation of the cheque on Sunday (1st February 2015) after the 9.00am Mass. The cheque was presented by Kathy Underhill, Director of Music at the The Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church to Phil Eassty who accepted it on behalf of CRY.

All photos (unless otherwise stated) taken by Paul Abbott