Romany Wood

Romany Wood is a 35 minute classical work for children's voices, narrator and orchestra, written in 2002 by David Gaukroger and David Carr. At its first performance £20,000 was raised for Sunfield School in Worcestershire. To date there have been various further performances, including two in Birmingham Symphony Hall and two in Worcester Cathedral. The first performance in Scotland was given by Perth Symphony Orchestra and a childrens' choir of over 200 voices in Perth Concert Hall on 28th February 2009

Romany Wood is now the centre of a unique national singing project. The rights for all performances and recordings have been given to a charitable company, whose aims are:
1. to transform the lives of British children by promoting performances of Romany Wood in schools, churches and concert halls throughout the UK
2.to transform the lives of most disadvantaged children at home and abroad by raising money for children's charities, principally UNICEF and the NSPCC.
Romany Wood - Sing for Children is run entirely by volunteers. This ensures that at least 97% of all donations goes to children's charities.

David Carr writes:

It all began in Latin. At least it was during a Latin Class in the library where David Carr discovered the book by 'Beshlie' (a Romany artist) and David Walser which gave the impetus to this musical for children. After the words were written it remained dormant for some time awaiting its own musical genius. This arrived in the shape of David Gaukroger who was looking for a work for children to help raise funds for the Sunfield School for autisic children. The resulting open air concert saw Romany Wood performed for the first time in Hagley Park by children from Worcestershire schools as part of 'The last night of the proms'.
From this beginning was born the 'Romany Wood Charitable Trust' whose aim is to raise a million pounds for children's charities world wide by encouraging schools to stage performances of the musical.
We have received support and encouragement from many sources including Adrian Chiles to whose daughter the piece is dedicated, Jasper Carrott, Howard Goodall, the schools singing 'Tsar', UNICEF, NSPCC, Yamaha, Churches, Archbishops, Politicians, businessmen and women, musical organisations and especially the Trinity College of Music.
It all began in Latin: it is now being translated into Welsh.

For further details see www.romanywood.co.uk