The Royal Armouries charity gala concert supports veterans living with mental health challenges
Sir Karl Jenkins to conduct The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace
Central Hall Westminster will play host this September to a spectacular charity gala concert, featuring Sir Karl Jenkins, to mark the centenary of the last 100 days of First World War hostilities.
A highlight of the 100 Days to Peace concert, to be held in the central London venue’s iconic Great Hall, will be a performance of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, conducted by one of the most-performed living composers in the world, Sir Karl Jenkins. His renowned composition will be performed by the Royal Choral Society and the Philharmonia Orchestra. The evening marks the only performance in England this year of one of Sir Karl’s best-loved works conducted by the composer himself, and the music will be performed against a backdrop of Hefin Owen’s moving film of The Armed Man.
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was composed by Sir Karl Jenkins in 1999 when he was commissioned by the Royal Armouries to write a piece of music to mark the new millennium, reflecting hope for the future.
The event will also bring together Samuel Bordoli’s The Great Silence, written in memory of choristers killed in the First World War, with the charity Remembered, featuring their 2018 Armistice installation There But Not There.
All proceeds from the event will go to three charities which work to support military veterans facing challenges, including mental health. Charities to benefit from the evening include Help for Heroes, Combat Stress and Heads Together – The Royal Foundation’s Campaign and Mental Health Initiative, through a partnership formed by the Royal Armouries.
Siona Mackelworth, Interim Director: Public Engagement at the Royal Armouries said: “The style and ‘feel’ of Central Hall Westminster, its capacity, its location in the heart of Westminster, not to mention the incredible acoustics in the Great Hall, all pointed to this being the perfect venue for our evening of music and remembrance, 100 Days to Peace.
“The event will feature world-famous composer and conductor, Sir Karl Jenkins, giving his only performance of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace in England this year. This, coupled with the fact that all proceeds from the event will go to three charities working to support veterans facing mental health challenges, meant that we needed a venue which could not only accommodate a large number of people but was also fitting for an event of this nature.”
Paul Southern, Managing Director of Central Hall Westminster, comments: “We are truly honoured to be hosting this spectacular gala evening that not only marks an important event in our history, but raises funds for ex-service personnel living with a range of issues, including mental health. Over the years we have hosted many high-profile and historically significant events and The Great Hall lends itself to these occasions. Additionally, as a not-for-profit company which exists to pay for the upkeep of our wonderful building and support charities around the world, this remarkable concert reflects our ethos to support others.”
The 100 Days to Peace concert will be held on the evening of Thursday 6th September 2018 and tickets are now on sale now.
