Open Strings, a voluntary music group formed during the Covid-19 pandemic, is now raising funds and bringing joy to dementia patients at East Cheshire Hospice. The group performs at the Sunflower Living Well Centre and various charity events supporting the hospice.
Unlikely Beginnings at an Alpaca Farm
The group's formation was a product of the pandemic. Most members were unable to gather at Macclesfield Music Centre, where they had previously met. Instead, they found an unusual rehearsal space: an alpaca farm in Disley. Violinist Nick Cheetham explained: "One of our group, Lindsay Pulley, had an alpaca farm where we played under a gazebo in a field two metres apart after the rules were relaxed. We were socially distanced and in a well-ventilated area. We sat there playing to alpacas and rehearsing for our own amusement."
Music for Dementia Patients and Charity Events
The group's performances at the Sunflower Living Well Centre have been particularly impactful. Nick's wife, Kate, has volunteered as a receptionist at the hospice for the last 10 years. Open Strings has also performed at a Memory Tree garden party and the Treacle Market, a popular local event. Nick said: "Music is very powerful and moves people. It also provides a backdrop for conversation. People enjoy it and we love playing music for them. We do it for fun and are delighted to raise money for the hospice at Christmas."
Community and Inclusivity at Macclesfield Music Centre
Nick praised Macclesfield Music Centre as "a wonderful place to come together to learn to play music" with members ranging "from tiny tots all the way through to people in their 80s and 90s." The group's other members include Sheila Garton, Andrea Waterson, Roger Whitehead, Simon Broady, Avril Mason, and Lindsay Pulley. Open Strings maintains a Facebook page under the name Open Strings (Macclesfield).
