Hundreds of music lovers braved the rain on Saturday to enjoy an international concert by young musicians which raised £1,500 for the mayor of Merton’s charities.

The audience of 280 were transported to the golden sands and warm sunshine of Caribbean islands by the sounds of the Panash Steel Pan Youth and Community Orchestras who skilfully interpreted songs such as Wise Men Say and Israeli folk song Hava Nagila. They won the Croydon Performing Arts Festival last year and will be performing nationwide throughout the year before returning to Merton to be based at Stanford Primary School.  

Panash Steel Pan Youth and Community Orchestras perform for the audience

Gaelic folk music led into the Merton Music Foundation’s Young Voices, together with children from the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Saturday School, who sang a traditional Polish song and others from around the world.

Performances from Crown Lane Percussion Groups and the Merton Youth Jazz Orchestra joined traditional Indian cine and folk dancing on the bill for the evening.

The concert on Saturday January 28 at St Mark’s Church of England Academy, Acacia Road, Mitcham, was in aid of the mayor’s charities, Age UK Merton and the Avanti Club and raised the funds in ticket sales, a raffle and donations. 

The mayor of Merton, Councillor Brenda Fraser, said: “The concert has not only showcased the wealth of musical talent but the different styles of music from around the world which we are lucky to have within our community. I would like to thank the parents of the children who performed and the Merton Music Foundation, particularly Soo Bishop for all her hard work in putting on this wonderful concert.”