On September 30th 2006 Music for Alice held their Inaugural Black Tie Ball in London's Covent Garden.
The Music for Alice Inaugural Ball represented the official launch of
Music for Alice, a new charity that has been established in tribute to
Alice Macgill. Alice's life was cut short in the Asian tsunami on 26th
December 2004. Alice was studying to become a music teacher and Music
for Alice has been established to make the contributions to music
education that Alice can no longer make.
Four hundred and fifty glamorous guests stepped
out on a fine autumnal evening and descended on the New Connaught
Rooms. Guests were welcomed to the reception with a flute of champagne
and the sophisticated sounds of a Jill Collier and†Natasha
Zielazinski's cellos. As the champagne glasses emptied the reception
filled up until a booming announcement declared 'dinner is served' and
the doors to the Grand Hall swung open. The Grand Hall, a luxurious,
elaborate and imposing space dominated by twenty-foot chandeliers and
Juliet balconies, was soon filled with the sound of excitement as
guests bustled to their tables. A three-course meal ensued; a starter
of watercress soup was followed by a sumptuous parma ham wrapped
poussin and, to finish, a frankly indulgent trio of chocolate deserts.
Fantastic as the meal was, more important matters
were at hand. Chrissie Morris did a fantastic job in her role as
compere for the evening, her first task being to introduce Ede, Alice's
sister and founder of the charity, to the podium. Ede spoke eloquently
and from the heart of the passion, talent and inspiration of her
younger sister, leaving none in doubt about the strength and integrity
of either of the Macgill sisters. Ede's words were the perfect reminder
of the tragic events that had inspired the evening, and few eyes were
left dry.
There was, however, no doubt that it was Saturday night in the nation's
capital. The South City Trio struck up their instruments and kept feet
tapping throughout the main course. Soon after the Rafflettes took to
the floor. Unashamedly employed because of the persuasive powers of
their features (not to mention their hemlines) the Rafflettes proceeded
to cause the sale of the evening's raffle tickets to skyrocket. Not
that the prizes couldn't hold their own; a dinner party catered by one
of Gordon Ramsay's chefs, dinner and concert tickets at St John Smiths
Square and a pair of Arsenal tickets being just a sample of what was on
offer. The Arsenal tickets caused an outcry when the winning Manchester
United fan generously offered them for auction, triggering a stampede
that would have made David Dickinson proud.
With desert accompanied by the improvised piano of
Ben Smith, the formalities were soon over and as the last plates were
cleared the DJ set up. There was no question the audience was keen as
the DJ was later heard saying "I've never had so many people dance to
the backing tape". Shapes were thrown - the pictures speak for
themselves and perhaps the less said the better.
As the clocks struck one am and guests were
ushered into the night there was no doubt that the evening had
accomplished everything that had been asked of it - four hundred and
fifty people had been wined and dined, three live acts had entertained
a willing audience, £5,000 had been raised and one new charity had been
launched in the world.
The trustees of Music for Alice would like to
reiterate our gratitude to the generosity to everybody who contributed
their talents, skills, time and money to making the ball such a
success.
