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Frances Tatlow, a young harpist from Melton Mowbray has been selected to participate in The Commonwealth Resounds (TCR) in Uganda in November alongside other young musicians from all over the Commonwealth.

Frances with be travelling with five other girls from The Purcell School, a specialist music school in Watford, which educates young talented musicians from age 8-18.

It's an exciting opportunity to introduce the harp to Uganda. We have yet to identify a previous harp performance there.

Frances will be the only musician travelling without her instrument, whilst she will greatly enjoy all the outreach work and other projects, she feels it is a lost opportunity for music in Kampala.

It is currently impossible to rent, borrow or learn the harp in Uganda. We have found no evidence of any previous performance there – probably due to the extortionate cost of shipping a harp there and back.

Kampala Music School already have most orchestral instruments, but lack this most classy of classical instruments and would strongly support a donation.

Buying a harp

TCR have been offered a half price lever harp for Kampala Music School and a sponsor has agreed to ship out any DONATED instruments free of charge.

It will also allow Frances and other harpists the opportunity to perform and demonstrate the harp in Uganda.

The Commonwealth Resounds aims to encourage young musicians to work together in a multi-cultural programme of concerts, workshops and outreach, and runs in conjunction with The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Whilst in Uganda, the musicians will be learning about each other's music, singing in a performance of Mozart's Requiem, playing with amateur Ugandan musicians, discussing key issues relevant to musicians and their livelihoods, playing in concerts to high ranking officials from commonwealth nations and teaching local children about classical western music.

"Let's make it happen!"

Frances and her friends recently visited Rupal Rajani at ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Leicester to talk about the project, after a fundraising concert in Whissendine.

Anyone wishing to help towards giving a harp to Kampala Music School is invited to send donations into any HSBC bank made out to 'The Commonwealth Resounds'.

The account number is 81553658, sort code 40-04-37. Please give your donation the reference Harp.

Further information can be obtained from the Musical Director, Alison Cox by emailing:

Let's make it happen!