An international opera singer and an acclaimed East Yorkshire choir hit the high notes to help the Daisy Appeal bring in six grand going on seven grand by presenting songs from an all-time favourite musical in an exclusive setting.
Mezzo soprano Katie Marriott, who has returned to Beverley following a career singing across Europe, was joined by the Wedding Belles singers, some volunteer nuns and the host of the event at Everingham Park, near Pocklington.
They performed a selection of songs from the multiple Oscar-winning film in front of a sell-out audience of nearly 140 who also enjoyed an Alpine-themed supper.
The show took place in the private Everingham Hall Chapel, which is also known as St Mary the Virgin and St Everilda Roman Catholic Church and is a Grade I Listed Italianate Roman Catholic chapel built in 1839 alongside Everingham Hall.
Katie sang the role of Maria and she was helped by Philip Guest to stand in for the Captain Von Trapp. The Wedding Belles led by singing teacher Liz Carmichael played the role of the children and chorus, with Dorcas Leather providing accompaniment on the keyboard.
Hannah Smith-Levy, a local actor and trustee of all female theatre company She Productions, was the narrator and Daisy Appeal trustee Karen Guest joined the charity’s fundraiser Claire Levy and volunteer Sarah Ritchie in dressing as nuns for the day.
Regional businesses Andrew Jackson Solicitors, Haines Watts and Handelsbanken sponsored the event and TC patisserie, Cerutti 2 and Roberts and Speight provided their products and services at cost. Minster cycles, Guest and Philips jewellers and Cerutti 2 donated prizes for a raffle which itself raised more than £1,000.
Claire said:
We’re still totting up all the proceeds but we estimate the event brought in between £6,000 and £7,000 and we are grateful to our sponsors for helping to cover the costs and ensure the charity retains as much of that as possible.
“We also really appreciate the support of Katie, who has performed all over the world, and the Wedding Belles, who are very much in-demand for weddings and charity events with their repertoire of modern and traditional harmonies. Philip Guest was a fantastic Captain Von Trapp and his offer to let us use such an exclusive venue was a masterstroke.
The picture shows the performers in Everingham Hall Chapel before the event:
Front row – (from left) Hannah Smith-Levy, Katy Marriott and Philip Guest.
Behind – The Wedding Belles.
Rear – Nuns for the day (from left) Sarah Ritchie, Karen Guest and Claire Levy.