Performing to a live audience in All Saints church, and a virtual audience through Facebook streaming, Wokingham university student Jasper Severn gave a virtuoso performance last night of classical and contemporary pieces for solo cello. The free charity concert has raised hundreds of pounds in donations for Breast Cancer Care.
Jasper said: ” I put on a cello concert for Breast Cancer Care because our family has been touched by breast cancer unfortunately and so I wanted to give something back doing what I enjoy and hopefully the audience enjoyed too.”
Works played included pieces by JS Bach and the 20th-century Spanish cellist and composer Gaspar Cassadó on classical cello; and a demonstration of contemporary pieces on the electric cello. The evening culminated with the deeply moving and poignant cello section of “Prayer” from Ernest Bloch’s “From Jewish Life”.
Amongst the virtual audience was the acclaimed cellist and winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who commented online “Bravo”.
The Rector of All Saints Church, Canon David Hodgson, said: ” We were delighted and privileged to host this amazing and unique concert by Jasper Severn, such a talented locally-based musician, to raise money for a really good cause. We’re looking forward to being able to host many more cultural and charitable events like this when the church building has been upgraded with modern facilities as a result of our Community Church 2020 project.”
Watch the live stream here (performance starts at about 5 mins in)
