Noriko lends her support to fundraising drive for a new piano at The Witham

THE second in a series of concerts to raise money for a replacement piano for The Witham, in Barnard Castle, will be held on Saturday, February 25.
It will feature a recital by the distinguished pianist Noriko Ogawa, already well known in the region.
Ms Ogawa has achieved considerable renown since her success at the Leeds International Piano competition.
She appears with all the major European, Japanese and US orchestras and is also well known as a recitalist and chamber musician.
Like the first concert in the series, given by Murray McLachlan, Kathryn Page and 17-year-old son Callum, the recital by Ms Ogawa will take place at 7.30pm in Barnard Castle Methodist Church, not in the Witham itself.
She will be playing works by Clara Schumann; Clara’s husband Robert (Fantasy); Takemitsu (Rain Tree Sketch 2); Liszt (Valley Overmann); and Chopin (Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise).
Admission is £12 at the door, which includes refreshments. There is a discounted price of £2 for under-18s.
John Lowles, one of the organisers, thanked everyone who came along to the first fundraising concert.
“It was a great success and everyone, including the musicians, seemed to enjoy it.
“This next one should be of a very high standard, too. Noriko has played in Darlington and elsewhere in the region before.
“She is an excellent player. It’s very kind of her – and all the other musicians playing in this series – to come and support The Witham Piano Fund.
“Thanks to some extremely generous donations and other fundraising efforts, the fund has already reached a nicely promising level.”
He added: “In the end, when we know how much money is in the kitty, we should be able to purchase a pretty good instrument.
“Murray McLachlan who played at our first concert, agreed to check whatever baby grands we look at, so that we can be confident we get a good ’un.”