- Musical legends performed for Nordoff Robbins on Tuesday 13th December at St Luke’s Church, London
- Josette Simon OBE and Jemma Redgrave were celebrity readers
Nile Rodgers and Chic headlined the UK’s largest music therapy charity, Nordoff Robbins’ annual fundraising Christmas Carol Service at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea on Tuesday 13th December, with support from fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Richie Sambora. Nordoff Robbins is pleased to announce today that thanks to the generosity of the artists and audience, the service raised £125,000 for vital music therapy.
Nile Rodgers and Chic performed a selection of classic hits including Le Freak, We are Family, Everybody Dance, Good Times, Get Lucky, Rapper’s Delight and a version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas – getting the entire audience dancing in the aisles.
Richie Sambora, songwriter, vocalist and the gifted lead guitarist of multi-million selling Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Bon Jovi also joined the star-studded line up, in the stunning and intimate church setting, performing Livin’ on a Prayer, It’s my Life, Wanted Dead or Alive and a cover of Hallelujah.
Nile Rodgers joined the line-up fresh from receiving the Lifetime Achievement award at the recent MOBO Awards. The legendary songwriter, producer, arranger and guitarist has been making waves in music since co-founding Chic in the 1970s and his music has been an inspiration to generations that have followed. Over more than 50 years in the music industry, he has collaborated with a wide range of artists from David Bowie and Madonna to Daft Punk.
The stars’ musical performances were interspersed with a performance by Latymer Prep school choir and an adult choir leading traditional Christmas carols, and festive readings from celebrities, including ‘Brian’s Nativity Play’ by Willy Russell read by Josette Simon OBE, and Jemma Redgrave reading Maya Angelou’s ‘Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem’.
Sponsored by Hipgnosis Songs, the money raised from The Nordoff Robbins Carol Service will help Nordoff Robbins’ dedicated music therapists to support those who need it most, continuing to break down barriers with the power of music therapy – often the only way some of the UK’s most vulnerable people can express themselves and experience real connection in society.
Nordoff Robbins’ trained music therapists work with children and adults with extreme life challenges, including injuries, disabilities and terminal illness. In 2021, Nordoff Robbins music therapists reached 8,713 individuals throughout the year, holding 35,500 therapy sessions. The charity also worked with 318 partner organisations such as schools, care homes and hospices to provide much needed music therapy.
Sandra Schembri, CEO of Nordoff Robbins said: “Music and the festive season go hand in hand, and here at Nordoff Robbins, people and music are at the heart of everything we do. Thanks to the money raised through this wonderful annual concert, we can deliver music therapy to more clients across the UK, including some of the most vulnerable people in society. We believe that music is a superpower. Imagine if music was the only way you were able to communicate. Now imagine a world with no music – it’s unthinkable. Music can offer people true inclusion and belonging, and access to it must be a human right.
That’s why we’re so thankful to Nile, Richie, Josette, Jemma and all the artists involved, and to our sponsor, Merck Mercuriadis and Hipgnosis Songs, who helped us to celebrate the festive season with an incredible opportunity to join such a shining line up of stars in a spectacular setting.”
Nordoff Robbins is delighted to have Hipgnosis Songs as a sponsor for the third year. Hipgnosis Songs is the first UK investment company offering investors a pure-play exposure to songs and associated musical intellectual property rights. Its focus is building a diversified portfolio, acquiring catalogues that are built around proven hit songs of cultural importance by some of the most talented and important songwriters globally.