A special gala concert will take place at Cadogan Hall on Monday 20 October 2025 to mark the 90th anniversary of Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea.
The event will honour the award-winning charity’s rich history, from its origins as the Ladies’ Association in 1935 to its current role supporting The Royal Marsden Hospital through volunteer work and fundraising.
Hosting the evening is internationally acclaimed pianist and Steinway & Sons Ambassador, Dominic Ferris, who will perform solo and as part of The Piano Brothers with Elwin Hendrijanto.
The concert will feature performances from No.1 vocal group BLAKE, West End soprano Georgi Mottram, Britain’s Got Talent winner Colin Thackery MBE, soloists Joseph & Benjamin from Libera Choir, The Chelsea Pensioner Singers, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra guest leader Stephen Morris, and Glyndebourne’s Jack Redman.
Audiences can expect a musical journey through the Great American Songbook, West Side Story, and beloved classics such as You Raise Me Up, I Dreamed A Dream, and What A Wonderful World.
Guest readers will present short segments reflecting on the charity’s evolution and the impact of its volunteers. These include Lord Jeffrey Archer, John Butler, Sophia Money-Coutts, and Dr Sian Williams, with recorded readings from Annabel Croft and Charlotte Ritchie.
Founded in 1935, the Ladies’ Association began by supporting patients and staff through hands-on care and amenities. Today, Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea boasts over 170 volunteers who contribute around 20,000 hours annually.
In 2019, the charity received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour for UK voluntary groups. On average, it contributes £250,000 annually to the hospital through fundraising and donations.
Wendy de Capell Brooke, President, said: “Following the success of our collaboration with Steinway & Sons last year, which was marked by a concert featuring Min-Jung Kym, it felt only fitting to partner with Steinway once again as we celebrate our 90th anniversary. This gala concert reflects nine decades of support for The Royal Marsden, Chelsea, through music and narrative in the form of ‘letters live.’ We are very grateful to Dominic Ferris and Sophia Money-Coutts for bringing to life the vision of long standing volunteers Emily Eban, Sarah Phipps and June Torrance.”
Sarah Phipps, Vice Chair and Meet & Greet Co-Ordinator, added: “The Marsden saved my life in 2015 and like many volunteers I joined to make a difference. I wanted to give back and enhance the patient experience, raising awareness of the work we do which in turn enables us to give money to the hospital for essential equipment.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
