Getting together to enjoy Christmas carols and concerts is a cornerstone of many people’s Christmas. Given that music events were missed by many over recent years, we are proud to have supported two local music groups this Christmas with £700 through the MPA Charitable Foundation.

The Sing! Choir in Bentley Heath is a community choir that is open to everyone. The choir perform a variety of songs and styles from pop to swing. Our Receptionist Liz Allen is a proud member of the group, and we were pleased to be able to make a £500 donation to support the ongoing running of the group in 2023.

Sing! Bentley Heath Community Choir Friends and Family Event 2022 

The choir has a tremendous community spirit and does so much to fundraise and help others within the local community. Our donation will go towards funding licencing costs, promotion of the Spring Sing Concert and keeping tickets at affordable rates so the choir can be enjoyed by as many people as possible. It will also allow the choir to perform in smaller venues like care homes and dementia cafes. We hope it will help the choir enjoy a successful 2023.

In addition, we have donated £200 to the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra. Celebrating its 50 anniversary this year, it is one of the world’s top youth jazz groups and it is returning to Henley in Arden this Christmas to perform a variety of Big Band music as part of its ‘Fanfare to Christmas’ concert.

The long-established orchestra supports young people in developing their musical talents and is currently under the direction of award-winning trumpeter and conductor John Ruddick MBE.

Our donation has been used to purchase 20 tickets for the concert which have been given to our staff to distribute to local youth clubs and Scout groups to enable them to watch the concert for free and hopefully spark their interest in big band music.