European Doctors Orchestra support Oswald’s Hospice to the ‘tune’ of £14,700!

A landmark concert by doctors from across Europe was held at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (formerly Sage Gateshead) on Sunday 10^th November 2024, in support of St Oswald’s Hospice. Two hundred healthcare workers joined forces to form the European Doctors’ Orchestra (EDO) and Northern Healthcare Choir to perform a programme of classical music at the iconic venue, with hundreds in attendance to enjoy the afternoon.

The event celebrated 20 year of the European Doctors’ Orchestra, a full symphony orchestra of about 100 players, who perform at least two public charity concerts a year. Over the past two decades, concerts have been held in venues in Bucharest, Budapest, Berlin, Bern, Ljubljana, Nantes, Olomouc, Oslo, Poznan, Rotterdam, Verona and Wiesbaden – as well as Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Manchester in the UK.

More than 460 musicians from 23 European countries have played with the orchestra during that time. And in the last decade, EDO has raised over £250,000 for more than 25 charities across the Continent. Players pay their own travel and accommodation costs and share the concert costs via a subscription for each concert.

The Glasshouse concert was very well attended and the atmosphere was upbeat and celebratory,  with a diverse programme of music led by conductor Constança Simas including Ravel, Poulenc, Gershwin, Copland and a new commission by award-winning composer Elena Kats-Chernin, with guest soprano Jessica Cale.

One of the concert-goers, Austen Winstanley said: “‘It was such a lovely event, full of hope and a sense of internationalism. It was great to see an audience of ordinary people come together to be moved and wowed by music.”

With a combination of ticket sales , sales of merchandise, programmes and raffle tickets, a massive £14,735.26 was raised to support the work of St Oswald’s Hospice and the patients and families who rely on our services.

EDO Chair of Trustees, retired Newcastle GP Dave Tomson, said: “The concert was a real success, for the EDO and for St Oswald’s Hospice. The orchestra all said they has a great time, with our Cello lead commenting that it might have been their favourite concert to play in ever!

“Personally, I found it to be a very uplifting programme and accessible to those new to classical music. It was heartening to hear that for some, it was the first taste of a classical concert.”

Jane Hogan, Head of Fundraising at St Oswald’s Hospice added: “We were delighted to be chosen as the beneficiary of this fantastic event and were all blown away by the quality of the  concert, with so many positive comments from our supporters who attended. The money raised has exceeded our expectations, and would cover the cost of 526 hours of specialist nursing care for a patient on our Adult Inpatient Unit.

“Thank you to everyone involved in making it happen and supporting our mission to ensure quality, hospice care continues to be available for this in our community who need it”

Thank you to EDO committee of Dave Tomson (oboe), Michael Cave (flute), Karen Riddle (clarinet) and Jonny Caudle (clarinet) for all of their hard work in bringing this concert into fruition, and to all of the EDO players, conductors, composers and the Northern Healthcare Choir members for their magnificent performances.