Bristol businesswoman and award-winning society hairdresser Egidia Bonomini has become one of the latest major donors to support St George’s Bristol and its Building a Sound Future Appeal as it draws towards a successful conclusion.
Ms Bonomini is among 97 major donors and corporates who have agreed to help raise money towards the concert hall’s ambitious £6.3m extension project by joining the Apollo Club. The venue needs just three more backers to hit its target of 100.
Each club member donates £5,000 – or makes five annual payments of £1,000 – to sponsor one of the 100 glass ‘roundel’ sections of the dramatic Apollo sculpture which will hang in the extension’s foyer.
Other club members include digital media group Sift, Bristol-headquartered national law firm Burges Salmon and Clifton College.
Now trustees and staff at St George’s are urging supporters of the arts to come forward to take up the remaining Apollo Club places.
The sculpture, named after Apollo, the Greek god of music, has been designed by Bristol-based international artist Luke Jerram – best known for his Play Me I’m Yours pianos placed around Bristol and other cities, and his Park and Slide waterslide on Park Street.
Funding towards St George’s extension has also come from Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund, Bristol City Council, charitable trusts and foundations. And the registered charity is also running a crowdfund appeal with donations starting from £5.
Reasons for joining the Apollo Club vary. Some members are attracted by inclusion on the supporter acknowledgement panel, and invitations to VIP events. Ms Bonomini, whose award-winning salon has featured in society magazine Tatler, is passionate about St George’s and the area surrounding Park Street. Her children have also performed on its stage.
The Building a Sound Future project will give St George’s new multi-purpose spaces plus a café bar and improved access and there will be heritage displays in the crypt, making it an all-day venue.
Works will transform St George’s into a world-class venue for music and spoken word events and will help the charity achieve long-term financial sustainability.
The charity’s chairman, trustees and other volunteers have helped recruit Apollo Club members.
St George’s chief executive Suzanne Rolt said: “The response to the Apollo Club has been phenomenal. Our major donors and corporates all have their own stories to tell and reasons for giving. We were touched to learn of Egidia Bonomini’s very personal story. I would urge anyone who is interested in supporting St George’s Bristol to contact us.”
Ms Bonomini, who owns Bonomini Hair Salon, said: “St George’s is a place close to my heart as I spent a lot of time as a child in and around it.”
St George’s Bristol programmes the best in classical, folk, jazz and world music. It is used by touring groups as well as local orchestras and choirs and corporate and private venue hire clients.
For further details of how to support the Apollo Club fundraising campaign visit buildingasoundfuture.co.uk or call 0117 929 4929.
