A CONCERT in aid of a charity supporting profoundly deaf children and their families takes place at a city church on Saturday (April 27).
The public performance for the Elizabeth Foundation for Deaf Children will be held at St Oswald’s Church, in Church Street, Durham, starting at 7pm.
It features the combined choirs of three Durham University colleges, St Mary’s, Collingwood and Grey.
They will perform, “Music from the Chapel of St Mary”, and, “Songs of Hope: Spirituals of American Slavery.”
World-renowned musical educator Ann Rachlin, who has produced 24 albums and written 11 children’s books, will address concert-goers outlining the history and work of the Elizabeth Foundation.
She said she was “touched” the event will be raising funds for the foundation, which incorporates the Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children, of which she is president.
Foundation founders Shirley and David Metherell, from Portsmouth, are travelling to Durham for the concert.
They set it up when daughter Elizabeth was diagnosed profoundly deaf, aged 22 months in1979.
Ms Rachlin said as there was little support for families with deaf children at the time they decided to build their own centre to help parents with deaf babies, to give their children the best opportunities to learn to speak and communicate in the hearing world.
“What is mind-boggling is they did just that. They built their own centre.
“Shirley and David, together with three other couples, physically built the centre.
“They taught themselves how to dig foundations, how to install plumbing, etc.
“The result is simply wonderful.”
She said the facility is now thriving and is considered among the most colourful, best equipped centres for deaf babies and under-fives in the world.”
Further details are available via the website
The Elizabeth Foundation | Helping preschool deaf children and babies learn to listen and talk, or from Grey College, on 0191-334 5638.
Admission, payable on the door, on the night, is £5 for adults, £3 for students and £2.50 for members of Durham University Musical Society.
All proceeds will go to the Elizabeth Foundation.
