As a teenager, having fallen in love with Music and particularly the Cello, I dreamed of travelling the world and of studying with some of the great Cellists of the day. My grandmother, who could’ve had a wonderful career in Music herself, had given up such aspirations devoting herself to her four children, and when one of her grandchildren showed particular musical promise playing the cello she devoted herself to encouraging him (me!) and also prayed for me every day: grateful that her own Musical aspirations found root further down the family.
Fast forward a few years and I had studied Cello across the world in Paris, London, across the pond in the US and in Canada and finally and most significantly in Finland. My last and greatest teacher: Arto Noras became my absolute Cello dad, and he expressed ambition for me to find a significant Cello. Such a thing was absolutely beyond my means and Seemed such a vain ambition after all the years my family had struggled to support me.
However, after a campaign for support in my home Island of Jersey led by my former kindergarten teacher, I was contacted by a gentleman (anonymously) who had decided to help me. He bought me a Cello… However, it was no ordinary cello: it was an 18th century masterpiece made initially by the hand of one of history‘s greatest Italian cello makers. It was the most significant gift I have ever received and became the inspiration for my life’s dream.That dream took inspiration from my grandmother‘s prayers: and became the dream of an orchestra that would touch Heaven and Love communities with its Music humour and faith.
The rest is history and in 2025 we celebrate. Four decades of the Kings Chamber Orchestra.From the start, we partnered with churches for the benefit of their communities, just one concert in our first year and all these later rising to up to 70 wonderful collaborations every year.
Throughout all this time, the gift of my Cello has remained an incredible example to me of what life can be like. A gift of inspiration, and generosity and ultimately for me: of Life itself.As we approach our 40th anniversary, I am reviewing all that the KCO has achieved and how meaningful it has been. I am hoping to produce a book about it.
Part of our journey today includes encouraging young people in their own careers, and many have joined KCO and today inspire us all or with their own dreams. All things considered: my cup is full and overflowing…
Two years ago as I was considering how to celebrate the many decades we have spent together, and realising that one day I will hang up my bow (although not quite yet!), I felt profoundly moved to an ambition to help one of our young players to acquire a fine instrument himself. This ambition has become a reality and is one of the most moving and fulfilling pay it forward projects I have ever set out to achieve.
Let me introduce to you Grig Cuciuc, one of KCO‘s leaders today, and one of our finest soloists. Grig had his debut as a soloist with the National Chamber Orchestra of Moldova at the age of 15, has also performed with the National Philharmonic of Moldova, and at 18 performed the Tchaikovsky concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. He has given recitals across the UK, Russia, Europe, and the Middle East and performed as soloist in halls including Cadogan Hall in London, Murmansk Philharmonic in Russia and Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem.
When I was given my cello, it was mostly a gift from the aforementioned gentleman, but there also were many donations from supporters. In Grig’s case there has been an immediate response to his need for a Violin and I have been able to organise a group of sponsors who have given and loaned money interest free to enable Grig to play a very fine Italian violin. If you would be interested and willing to help me in this 40th anniversary project I would like to finish paying for the instrument and re-create the gift that I was given in some small measure. Fine instruments can cost hundreds of thousands of pound, and we need just to raise £60,000 to make a gift of this violin to Grig. Any donation will help and if our many fans were all to help me I would be so very grateful.
I thank you all for the incredible 40 year journey of support. I look forward with your help to paying it forward.
I am very grateful to Jeremy Sampson and his lawyer wife Alicia for facilitating collecting the money and we’re all extremely grateful to all of you who take an interest in the hope that you will give what you can?
With deepest thanks –
Gerard Le Feuvre
Director and founder of the Kings Chamber Orchestra
