ISLAMABAD: Diplomats turned into musicians when they performed at a charity concert at Serena Hotel on Thursday night.

The ambassadors of Australia, Denmark and Bosnia put up a show to remember when they performed live for an audience made up of diplomats and the upper crust of Islamabad who had come together for a single purpose.

“The aim of the evening is to have fun but also to support two great charities,” said the high commissioner of Australia, Peter Heyward, as he stood next to the prominently displayed crystal trophy that Pakistan won in 1992.

The high commissioner did not forget to mention the big battle that was coming the next day – the quarterfinal at Adelaide.

Pointing to the world cup lent by the Pakistan Cricket Board, Peter Heyward said on a lighter note how he wished it would be in Aussies’ hands. And with their win over Pakistan on Friday, the Australian team got another step closer.

After a few words of welcome and introducing the two organisations the proceeds would to, the envoys began performing songs from the 60s and the 70s.

From the slower Eric Clapton cover ‘You look wonderful tonight’ to kicking up the tempo with ‘Cecilia’, the musicians had everyone singing along and dancing on their second rendition.

The envoys rolled out covers by ‘Men at Work’ and performed compositions back from the days like ‘Down under’ and ‘Brown eyed girl’ to mention some.

The ambassador of Denmark, Jesper Moller Sorensen, who played the acoustic guitar, explained how music was a hobby and they had all been rehearsing for two days.

The audience felt the energy as the Australian high commissioner on flute, Bosnian Ambassador Nedim Makarevic on electric guitar and accompanying musicians Sameer Ahmed on bass guitar and Coke Studio’s Gumby on the drums tapped into their favourite music genres. An hour later, the DJ took over and kept the party going.

The Spring Charity Gala was able to raise Rs2.5 million for the thalassemia patients at Jamila Sultana Foundation and the Australian- Pakistani charity working to help the families of servicemen wounded and killed in the line of duty.

According to its head, retired Brig Mohammad Javed, there were more than 570 thalassemia patients, the youngest about 14 years and the oldest 38, who needed fresh blood every two months.

“The Fayyaz Sumbal charity was established by officers of Australian police service who had trained Pakistani servicemen. They felt like doing something for the families that had lost their bread earners. Unfortunately, there are a lot of them,” said Peter Heyward.

Published in Dawn March 21st , 2015

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