Jazz sounds to boost ear fund

1:59pm Wednesday 19th March 2008

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A classically-trained musician with a passion for jazz is performing at a charity concert to help raise money for the Telegraph & Argus Listening for Life Appeal.

Chris Illingworth, who is originally from Shelf and a self-taught jazz pianist, will perform with The Chris Illingworth Trio at the concert at Dean Clough, Halifax, on Friday, April 18.

Tickets are £8 and all proceeds from the event will go to the appeal, which is raising money to build a dedicated cochlear implant centre at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Cochlear implants enable profoundly deaf babies, children and adults to hear. Local charity The Ear Trust was set up by Bradford ear, nose and throat consultant Chris Raine after he first brought cochlear implants to Bradford in 1990.

It has already raised £1m towards the cost of the new centre and is appealing for help in raising the remaining £1.5m to help transform the lives of profoundly deaf babies, children and adults though cochlear implants.

Chris, 23, has a life-long passion for music, both performing and listening, and began playing the piano at the age of eight.

On leaving school he was accepted at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and in 2006 he received his honours degree followed by a postgraduate diploma with distinction and was also awarded the John Ireland Piano Prize.

He now teaches in schools around Calderdale and performs across the country as a soloist, accompanist and with his jazz trio, which includes percussionist Finlay Panter and bassist Grant Russell.

He said the trio, who have opened the Manchester International Festival and produced their first CD, were proud to have been invited to perform at Dean Clough to raise money for the Listening for Life Appeal.

"Most of us take the ability to hear for granted and being musicians, knowing the importance of hearing, we were happy to give any help we could to such a fantastic charity," he said.

Tickets for the event can be booked online at www.dean clough.com or from the box office on (01422) 255266. To see and hear more about the trio visit www.myspace.com/chrisilling worthtrio The Listening for Life Appeal is continuing to enjoy the support of people from all walks of life across Bradford and beyond. A cheque for £100 has been received from Eastbrook Mission Handbell Ringers, who give concerts in aid of charity. After reading about the appeal in the T&A they decided to make a contribution.

The appeal benefited to the tune of £500 from a concert sung by the Heaton choir Chordiality at St Mary's Church in Cottingley.

The event was organised by the West Bradford Rotary and formed part of the choir's 15th anniversary series of concerts.

Gordon's Solicitors in Piccadilly, Bradford, held a pampering evening for their clients and raised £50 and they held an eighties quiz night to raise more cash.

The Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service held a toy sale in the entrance to BRI to raise £70.

Ear Trust fundraiser Breeda Barry said: "We still have a long way to go to reach our target but if anyone would care to put on an event to help raise funds please contact The Ear Trust at Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Services on (01274) 364853 or e-mail Breeda@Eartrust.org."

e-mail: claire.lomax@telegraphandargus.co.uk

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