Cellist Oliver Clark from Dyke praised in parliament for organising virtual orchestral performance of Silent Night in aid of Cash For Kids
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A YOUNG musician from Dyke has been praised at Holyrood for organising a virtual fundraiser.
Cellist Oliver Clark (22) arranged a video conference performance of Silent Night by students from Moray Music Centre in Elgin before Christmas, which raised £170 for the Cash For Kids charity and drew the admiration of MSPs at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
Highlands and Islands MSP, Jamie Halcro Johnston, submitted a motion praising Oliver’s efforts.
He said: “It was heartening to see local people using their skills in such a positive way. Oliver did a power of work, including the online tutoring of some of the musicians to get them to be able to perform at this level.”
Royal Northern College of Music student Oliver wanted to promote the skills of fellow musicians from Moray so arranged Silent Night for pupils volunteering from all over the area. Seven players recorded their parts from home and Oliver put them together on his computer.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: “The pandemic has been a particular challenge for music students as rehearsing and performing together is usually a staple part of their education. So it was encouraging to see how this example of an imaginative use of technology allowed students to collaborate and produce a recording of this quality.”
He added: “Oliver would wish to highlight the fantastic grounding he was given by his music teachers at school and at Moray Music Centre. That has given him the opportunity to pursue a career in music.”
Oliver was delighted to hear that the young musicians’ work was recognised in parliament.
He said: “Moray has always been rich in music and I think that it is essential to the development of young musicians to be given performing platforms and ensemble experiences.
“We are so lucky to have these incredible and well respected teachers in Moray and these young musician’s fantastic work is clearly testimony to this.”
View a video of the performance of Silent Night at www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDtlQ7o4tbM
To sponsor Oliver’s Cash For Kids fundraiser, visit www.cashforkidsgive.co.uk/campaign/mfr-mission-christmas-fundraising-2020/fundraisers/oliver-clark/
