Simon Arnold's 'Pachelbel's Progress Challenge'

Volunteer Simon Arnold at Buckland Abbey

Fundraising volunteer's challenge is music to our ears; musician Simon Arnold is playing a series of live classical sessions at 16 National Trust locations in 10 days across the South West this September.

Money raised from the challenge will be put towards conserving musical instruments of all kinds across the National Trust in the South West, something that is very close to Simon's heart.

Why not pop along to see Simon and support his fundraising challenge? He will be playing at the following places throughout September:

Greenway (13th am); Coleton Fishacre (13th pm); Killerton (14th am); Knightshayes (14th pm); Arlington Court (16th, am); Dunster (16th pm); Tyntesfield (17th, all day); Max Gate (18th am); Kingston Lacy (18th pm); Trelissick (19th all day); Coetehele (20th, am), Buckland Abbey (20th pm); Drogo (21st am); Saltram (21st pm); Stourhead (22nd) and St Michael’s Mount (26th all day).

If you'd like to help Simon reach his target, please pop your donation into his collection box in person on the day or donate online to his just giving page www.justgiving.com/nationaltrustmusic. Thank you.

We spoke to Simon to find out more

Simon Arnold, who volunteers across the South West
Volunteer pianist and organist Simon Arnold
Simon Arnold, who volunteers across the South West

Hi Simon, so what inspired you to do this challenge?

'I’m very passionate about music and want to keep it alive across National Trust places in the South West.  Music has been part of my life since I was a child. I became a chorister at Christchurch Cathedral choir school, Oxford at the age of 8 and went on to become a lay clerk at Bath Abbey after studying music at university in Bath.  I have a particularly close attachment to Knightshayes as I played the piano there at the age of 11, 50 years ago. My ambition is to raise funds to restore the pianos so that they can be played again.  

On my adventure I will be playing one of my favourite pieces, Albinoni’s Adagio as well as pieces that fit with the spirit of place of each property. Last year I raised funds that have been put to works on the pipe organ at Killerton.  This year all donations will go towards the upkeep and conservation of musical instruments in National Trust properties across the south west.’