Founded in 2007 by Andrew Baker MBE BCAv Play2Give is an award-winning Oxfordshire fundraising organisation supporting, raising money and awareness with a particular focus on children, health and disability charities. PATRONS ~ WINSTON ELLIS & MP DAVID JOHNSTON OBE
Please come back for our next Ball. You were amazing, you really brought and added to the ambience. Truly Wonderful!
Andrew Baker MBE
JAM Duo were delighted to provide music during the welcome drinks reception for this year’s Play2Give Charity Ball held in the Didcot Civic Centre, Oxfordshire.
We spent much of the day exploring West Oxfordshire having been out in Cheltenham the previous evening. With the Play2Give Ball being an evening event, we had plenty of time to wander around both Witney and Abingdon. This meant lots of charity shops for AM to explore as well as taking in some of the local culture.
Whilst we were wandering around various parts of Oxfordshire, we received a call from Andrew Baker MBE, the organiser of tonights event asking if we would like to join the guests for dinner after our performance. Apparently there were a few last minute dropouts due to the dreaded covid.
Not one to turn down a chance for dinner and also, more importantly, being keen to understand more about this event and its inspirational founder, we jumped at the chance to be more involved.
Play2Give Charity Ball
Arriving around 5pm gave us plenty of time to set up in the main entrance. The brief was to provide music whilst guests arrived an chatted over a welcome drink. With tickets sold out and over 100 people expected, this was definitely a job for our beautiful new Yamaha Electric Cello and PA system. Lovely as the acoustic cello is, it cannot compete with 100 or more people chatting!
Music for a Drinks Reception
The theme of the ball was Hollywood and so we made our set list accordingly. With no particular brief from the client for particular songs we picked things which were upbeat and suited the theme and atmosphere of the event.
With the electric cello and our PA system we were able to create just the right vibe for the welcome drinks reception. The music was loud enough but not overbearing. This is the beauty of the electric cello. Designed by Yamaha to sound just as natural as an acoustic cello it can be amplified to any volume to suit the occasion.
Andrew Baker MBE
Awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours 2021, Andrew first began fundraising when, in September 2002 he and his mother Ann was involved in the launch of the Oxford Mail’s original £15million fundraising campaign to build the specialist Oxford Children’s Hospital, which opened in January 2007.
It was this appeal and his own personal motivation to give back to “thank” the childhood medical teams for his treatment he received, which in January 2003, first drove Andy, then 14, into wanting to raise funds as then a pupil at St Birinus School in Didcot for the building of the children’s hospital. The amazing Oxford healthcare teams ultimately saved his life twice over, once at birth after he was looked after in the neonatal care unit in his first few days fighting for life after being born with a brain injury, and again aged 12 after enduring brain surgery. Raising funds at school was his way to repay his debt of gratitude back to the Oxford doctors who cared for, helped and treated him.
JAM Duo at Your Charity Event
Jules and Anne-Marie love performing for Charity Balls, Gala Dinners and similar Black Tie events. With a blend of acoustic and electric cello we can provide music for a welcome drinks reception, during a meal or a more upbeat set later in the evening.
If you would like to find out more please do continue to browse our website or alternatively you can get in touch with us via our contact page.
