London Orpheus Philharmonic Orchestra People are still suffering and dying in the aftermath of the devastating Pakistan earthquake. “I know the area in question as I lived in Pakistan and worked there, which is why I want to do something that will make a difference,” said Dr Roger Prentis, Chairman of the London Orpheus Philharmonic Orchestra.
LOPO is therefore organising a Concert of Chamber music at 7:30pm on 22 November 2005 at St Botolph’s in the City of London to raise money for the Pakistan earthquake victims.
"The situation in Northern Pakistan is dire. People are suffering and dying, even after several weeks. There is still so much more to do and we need all the help we can get NOW,” said Haamid Jaffer, Director of the Murshid Hospital & Health Care Centre.
“The affected area is remote and the inaccessible Himalayan valleys are coming into a severe winter with the snows already falling,” continued Roger. “Much has been given, but even more is needed – and needed now, before even more people die unnecessarily with the onset of winter.”
“Funds are desperately needed as the winter snows cover the homeless and disease and suffering persist. LOPO's concert is a good way for people to support our work in the disaster area and at the Murshid Hospital. Every penny raised will go towards saving life and ameliorating suffering," continued Haamid.
“We are appealing to everyone to help by giving generously to this cause. Over 73,000 people have died already, with a similar number of people injured. We need to raise the funds to help now, and do it quickly,” said Roger.
The concert will be held at 7:30pm in the evening of Tuesday 22 November 2005 at St Botolph’s next to Aldgate Underground station in the City of London.
Tickets are £10 and LOPO has set up a special account to take donations from individuals and corporate sponsors.
There is an exhibition of Islamic art by Vaseem Mohammed at St Botolph’s between 16 and 29 November 2005. Concert attendees will be able to enjoy Vaseem’s work during the interval. The exhibition will be open from 10:00 to 15:00 Monday to Thursday and is sponsored by the MBI Foundation.
Vaseem has kindly agreed that “Relief,” one of his works, can be used as the image for the Concert.
The London Orpheus Philharmonic Orchestra has been set up with the aim of raising money for charitable causes. A concert was run in March 2005 at the Barbican which raised £15,000 for the tsunami appeal. The orchestra is made up of professional and semi-professional musicians who give their time free of charge to help with LOPO’s fund raising objectives.
St Botolph’s Church is situated next to Aldgate Underground station in the City of London. It was used as a triage centre for victims of the 7/7 bombings and, after, as a base for the Emergency Services. The Church and its Rector, the Rev Dr Brian Lee, are committed to helping and have the support of the ethnically diverse local community.
St Botolph was the English Patron Saint of travellers, and has three surviving Churches in the City dedicated to him that are all situated next to the sites of the old city gates.
Vaseem Mohammed was born in 1966 and grew up in the East End of London. He has always been interested in shapes, textures and the atmospheres of my urban childhood. This fascination developed into a vocational interest in art during his mid-twenties when he enrolled at Tower Hamlets College to do an access course in Art & Design and then another in Creative Computing & Illustration. Since then he has freelanced in graphic design and furniture renovation with decoration (using Islamic patterns), only to have found his niche in fine art which he has concentrated on for the past 7 years.
can be arranged with key musicians or the Trustees by request.
Roger Prentis
Tel: 07860 - 403990
Fax: 020 - 8401 2738
e-mail: rap@lopo.org.uk