Notes of solidarity

The sweet smell of solidarity hangs in the air in this month's Red Folk column.

Following Fidel Castro's momentous decision to step down from his historic role as leader of the Cuban revolution, Cuba has been much in the news.

The Music Fund For Cuba plays a wonderful role in promoting both moral and practical support to that blockaded country.

Their next major fundraising event is an evening of classical music to be held in London on Monday March 10.

Cuba is renowned for its cultural traditions. Its music, arts and dance are enjoyed by people around the world. Budding artistic talent is nurtured and encouraged within the country's free music and arts schools, which are open to all.

The Music Fund for Cuba was established in 2001 in memory of Kirsty MacColl, a long-time friend of Cuba and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign who was inspired by Cuban music and culture.

The fund has been working since 2001 to support education and the development of the music and performing arts in Cuba. Working with Cuba's National Centre for Music and Arts Schools (CNEArt), it aims to help nurture new talent throughout the island by providing much-needed support and equipment for children and young musicians, dancers and artists throughout the island that they may otherwise be denied because of the US blockade.

Already, the music fund has sent thousands of pairs of ballet shoes to Cuba thanks to donations from the Birmingham and Royal Ballets, provided reeds and musical instruments to the national music schools and paid for the printing of essential musical textbooks.

The restoration of the 600-seat Miramar Community Theatre in Havana is the most ambitious project to date. With a fundraising target of £200,000, they are working with partners in Cuba to restore the theatre to a performance and rehearsal space for Havana's dance theatre music and circus schools and as a much-needed cultural centre for the local community.

Following the sell-out success of last year's classical concert by young Cuban and British musicians, the Music Fund for Cuba has announced another concert featuring five talented international performers.

This fundraising concert will feature two of Cuba's promising future classical stars playing both European classical and pieces by Cuban composers as well as traditional Cuban pieces.

The concert takes place at 7pm at the Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road in London (South Kensington/Gloucester Road Tube) and features Eralys Fernandez on harpsichord and piano and Ahmed Dickinson on guitar while Chloe Beecham supplies vocals and Iva Lokajickova and Rosa Camps play recorder.

Tickets cost £6 or £4 unwaged and include a Cuban cocktail. Bookings: (020) 7263-6452.

Back home in Blighty, leading political folk singer-songwriter par excellence Leon Rosselson has just released his latest album A Proper State, which was recently reviewed in the Morning Star. If you hurry, you can just catch Leon with the Sheffield Socialist Choir at one of his concerts to launch this CD at the Library Theatre in Surrey St, Sheffield S1 on Thursday. For tickets, contact v or phone (0114) 273-4427.