Graffeg launches crowdfunder for orchestral Soanes tale

Welsh indie Graffeg Publishing has launched a £12,500 crowdfunding campaign to record an orchestral tale for children and send it to every UK primary school.

"Gaspard’s London Foxtrot", composed by Jonathan Dove, is based on the upcoming book by broadcaster Zeb Soanes and illustrator James Mayhew. The music will be performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and narrated by Soanes.

In the latest instalment of the Gaspard the Fox picture book series the storyline sees its titular character accidentally take the 38 bus from Islington to Hyde Park and find himself at a classical concert.

Those who donate to the crowdfunder can bag tickets to the recording and premiere performance at Worcester’s Three Choirs Festival on 27th July 2020,

Soanes said: “James and I share a passion for music and communicating that imaginatively to young audiences. Independently we have both performed with orchestras as storytellers over the years and this project will bring us together on stage narrating and illustrating our own book. 

“We are overjoyed that Jonathan Dove has composed such truly wonderful music for "Gaspard’s London Foxtrot" and we can’t wait to perform it. We are delighted that Graffeg wishes to make the audio recording freely available to every primary school in the UK.”

Gaspard’s London Foxtrot will publish in June 2020 with an orchestral edition book and CD to be published in July 2020.