Femmes Fortissimo, the 50 piece brass band made up of female-identifying and non-binary brass and percussion players will celebrate the power of music to unite people and give them the strength to get through challenging times at a special concert this month.

The event at Acomb Parish Church Hall on Saturday 22nd April is inspired by this year's York International Women's Week and its theme of solidarity in exploring a wide range of issues from the environment to civil rights and female empowerment.

The band's appearance has become something an annual event (despite Covid-19) with profits from the concert going to support the York-based charity Survive, which offers specialist counselling and support work to all adults across North Yorkshire who have experienced sexual trauma.

Grateful

Speaking about the support from the Femmes Fortissimo, CEO of Survive, Mags Godderidge, said: "At Survive, we are continuing to see unprecedented demand for our specialist, trauma-informed services.

Money raised through this event will help us to help more adult survivors of sexual violence rebuild their lives, relationships and reach their potential. We are so grateful to Femmes Fortissimo for supporting us in this way."

Megamix

The concert will feature guest soloist Rebecca Lundberg, principal trombone with WFEL Fairey Band who will perform 'My Funny Valentine' and 'Stardust', whilst the band repertoire will feature music from pop classics and musical theatre to a megamix of football songs in honour of the England Lionesses football team.

It will also reprise Tracey McGuire's 'A New Anthem', written in response to the murder of Sarah Everard — a far reaching musical response that awarded the 2022 'Brass Band Project of the Year' by Brass Bands England.

Ignites and excites

Speaking about the concert newly appointed MD, Clare Winter told 4BR: "We've taken as our title, 'Music Can Do This', which is from a poem by Tony Walsh written for BBC Music Day in 2017. It really sums up what music can mean in that it 'ignites and excites and delights and invites us' — and that's what we aim to do with our concert!"

Money raised through this event will help us to help more adult survivors of sexual violence rebuild their lives, relationships and reach their potential. We are so grateful to Femmes Fortissimo for supporting us in this waySurvive

Concert details:

The concert is on Saturday 22nd April (7.30pm)

Tickets cost £10 adults, £7.50 under 18s/students from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/york/acomb-parish-church-hall/femmes-fortissimo-music-can-do-this/e-lmbrqb

More information:

Interview with Clare Winter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJSy_-acPD4

Interview with Rebecca Lundberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaGLRrpIEUg

Credit: Amanda Prosser