UK-Japan 2008 Festival

Charity Concert June 7 at Otsuma Women’s University, Tokyo

Sincere thanks to Professor Misako Inoue of Otsuma Women’s University, Tokyo Japan for her sponsorship and coordination of the charity concert Building Bridges Through Song on June 7, 2008. Under the patronage of Lady Tomoko Fry (Wife of the British Ambassador to Japan) the concert was held at the prestigious Otsuma Hall to benefit the Kasumisou Foundation’s AIDS Patient Family Support Program. Donations from concert attendance raised an impressive yen donations of Y349,100 (about $3,293) plus US$ donations of $200 for a grand total of $3,493.

British Embassy Choir Director, Steven Morgan, led the 75-voice choir that sang a concert featuring a selection of choral music from Britain and Japan as part of the UK-Japan 2008 Festival. Formed in the 1980s, the British Embassy Choir (www.bec.ac) has flourished under Mr. Morgan to become one of the most successful international choirs in Tokyo counting among its members talented singers from around the world. Steven Morgan, a native of central Illinois has lived in Japan since 1995 and has an extensive career in performing and conducting sacred and secular music.

Special thanks are also extended to Ms. Junko Sato for her efforts in preparation and publicity for the concert. We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to the concert’s generous sponsors which include Price Waterhouse Coopers, Kajima Corporation and Yamaha.

Kasumisou Foundation’s Aids Patient Family Support which provides comprehensive compassionate care to more than 75 families whose primary caregiver (mainly mothers) is suffering from mid to end stage AIDS. This program allows families to remain together while providing basic food and shelter. It also coordinates local free medical resources and makes heroic efforts to keep dependent children on track and in school.

http://www.gakuin.otsuma.ac.jp/

English Information about Otsuma Women’s University is available here.