To celebrate my 60th I've decided to do something a little unusual....

Some people climb a mountain or run a marathon to try to demonstrate to themselves that entitlement to a free bus pass doesn't mean that you can't take on new challenges!

Well I've been challenged/provoked/inspired (however you look at it) to play a Mozart piano concerto (K414 in A major) in public, with the Thames Chamber Orchestra. I haven't played in front of an audience since university days (and have never played this concerto before) so it's a slightly daunting prospect and will require a fair bit of physical and mental "training".

But a further major motivation is that I want to raise the sum of £30,000 for my local church - St Paul's Knightsbridge, to enable them to buy a new concert grand piano. At the moment, since they do not have a useable piano, all concerts at the church (including those which the BBC frequently hold there) and various memorial services etc for which the church is also frequently used, necessitate the hire of a piano. If St Paul's have their own piano they will be able not only to extend the range of concerts held at the church, but they can also charge external parties for the hire of the piano which they estimate would provide additional revenue to the church of £7,000 pa on a sustainable basis to help support the ongoing work of the church.

So I hope you'll be able to come to support me, celebrate my birthday and enjoy the music!

John Sunderland