Sheffield Hospital Charitable Trust Logo

Latest ne

 

› Back to Latest news

Charity Concert - Gavin Somerset and Deepcar Brass Band

Tuesday 27th October 2009

Gavin Somerset is the Conductor of Deepcar Brass Band and suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, one of the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease affecting some 8,000 children, teenagers and young adults. Gavin, along with many of his musical friends are holding a charity concert at The Venue, Stocksbridge, on Sunday 1st November.

Gavin (25) has been playing drums since his Grandparents bought him a set aged 2 in place of an Easter egg, as it was thought Gavin was lactose intolerant before he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.  By the age of 5, he had seen a real brass band and decided that he wanted a proper drum kit and lessons and joined his first band, Chapeltown British Legion at the age of 6. Since then, Gavin has played with many bands in the South Yorkshire area.

As a talented and accomplished musician, composer and arranger of all musical styles, Gavin has begun to realise some of his ambitions. As well as his playing he has become an accomplished conductor and arranger for brass bands and individuals, running his own small publishing company. He has also been teaching percussion in Derbyshire schools since 2005 and his pupils have a 100% pass rate in national exams. Gavin’s next ambition is to write for the film and recording industry.

Throughout Gavin’s life he has kept his condition low-profile and Cystic Fibrosis has never interrupted his playing. On one occasion he removed his IV line in order to play in a regional contest, having the line re-sited at the hospital after he played! His motto is that he controls his Cystic Fibrosis not the other way around - unless it’s absolutely necessary.

The concert is Gavin's way of helping those at the Northern General who have helped him lead a full and active life. Proceeds from the concert are for the Sheffield Cystic Fibrosis Appeal, which aims to raise £1m for a 12-bedded, gold standard, regional unit for Cystic Fibrosis patients. The Unit will transform in-patient treatment for teenagers (16+) and young adults from across South Yorkshire and beyond.

There will be a special introduction to the concert by Dr Frank Edenborough, Consultant at the Cystic Fibrosis Unit, who will also give a solo on French horn, along with three very special guest soloists, Andrew Platts, Derek Renshaw and Kim Wear.

Please come along and help Gavin support this worthy cause. Doors open at 7pm and show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are only £5 from The Venue box office on 0114 283 8692 or are available on the night. For further information please contact Fundraiser Rosey Somerset on 07736 445 294. For information about the Cystic Fibrosis Appeal and how you can get involved, please contact Isla Denoon on 0114 226 3415 or at isla.denoon@shct.nhs.uk  

 

 

›Back to Top