Update

We are delighted to announce that thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we have now reached our goal of raising £40,000 to support Handel for All and have unlocked all of the matched funding available to us! With you support, we will be able to continue in our mission to make the music of Handel available to everyone, everywhere, free of charge.

If you missed out on the chance to donate via The Big Give, but are still interested supporting Handel for All this Christmas, all donations made via our website will still be used to support this important project.

Thank you!

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Seven days to raise £40,000 for Handel for All

We are delighted to share that The English Concert (TEC) will be participating in The Big Give Christmas Challenge from midday on Tuesday 3 December (#GivingTuesday) to midday on Tuesday 10 December to raise funds for our pioneering access project, Handel for All.

The Big Give Christmas Challenge is the UK’s largest digital match-funding campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our match pledgers, all donations made to the Handel for All project during the campaign week will be doubled up to a total of £20,000. This means we have the opportunity to raise an astonishing £40,000 to support this vital project which champions open access to Handel’s exceptional music for everyone, wherever they are, free of charge. For every £1 you donate, TEC will receive £2; there has never been a better time to support baroque music.

“This year we’ve seen how much potential there is in Handel for All, which is reaching people from all walks of life and improving access for those who might not otherwise be able to enjoy the magnificence of this music.

We’re sincerely grateful to all of our supporters, and particularly those who supported last year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, which really is the best time of year to donate. As The Big Give comes round again, I’d like to personally thank all of those who will choose to donate to Handel for All in this important way. Your support is creating a truly generational legacy, which we can already see has the power to captivate audiences, whoever they are.”

Harry Bicket, Artistic Director

Handel for All

Handel for All is TEC’s ambitious project to film every single piece of Handel’s music and create an online library that is available to everyone, everywhere, for free. It lies at the heart of our access and outreach strategy, allowing the us to share the joy of Handel’s music far and wide and safeguard an important heritage asset for the future.

By embracing the possibilities and reach of digital technology, Handel for All will:

  • Provide a rich and accessible resource of vivid and engaging performances
  • Support the development of early career musicians
  • Give children and young people the chance to participate through interactive digital learning materials
  • Provide digital and self-led learning sessions for use in schools and at home
  • Create a valuable resource for academic institutions and cultural researchers.

Every gift up to £20,000 donated through this campaign will be doubled and will directly support the production of Handel for All. Whatever the amount, all donations make a big difference – twice as big as usual, in fact!

“A defiant vote of confidence in classical music” – Gramophone

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How to donate

Supporters can join us in this wonderful initiative by donating through our Big Give campaign page, which also contains further information about what your donations will support. If you have any questions about the project or would like to discuss your donation, please get in touch with Head of Development Holly Scrivener on holly@englishconcert.co.uk or 020 3962 2332.

NB: The campaign opens at midday on Tuesday 3 December and last until midday on Tuesday 10 December. Donations can only be made during this 7-day window, and must be made directly through The Big Give in order to take advantage of the match funding on offer.

In the meantime…

  1. Sign up to the mailing list to receive updates during the campaign week and afterwards, as we share news about our progress and impact.
  2. Write a reminder in your calendar for the start of the campaign at midday on Tuesday 3 December, or use this link to add one to your phone or email calendar for the technological wizards out there!
  3. Spread the word. Share this article with anyone who you think might be interested in Handel for All and supporting this important campaign.
  4. Visit our Big Give Online Donation Page to learn more and, when the time comes, make your donation. Every single gift makes an important difference.
  5. Enjoy the films already added to the Handel for All archive and share them far and wide.

“Thank you so much. A great resource for Handel lovers living outside London.” – Digital Audience Member

“What an all-encompassing soul-stirring, goose-bump inducing feast for the ears!” – Digital Audience Member

“This is a priceless gift! I thank you from the bottom of my heart – a necessary and much wanted tribute to the composer who moves me above all others… Thank you, thank, thank you!” – Digital Audience Member

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