London, 4^th July 2012 – GamesAid, a UK games industry charity for children and young people, today announced that senior games industry figures are leading the call for aspiring singers and classical music talent to come forward and be part of the first-ever Christmas Concert fundraiser for GamesAid.

Hidden musical and singing talents across the games industry are encouraged to raise money for GamesAid through the power of music, either performing a musical piece, singing a solo, or joining the games industry’s first-ever choir, The GamesAid Singers – as the centrepiece of the Christmas Concert, taking place at London’s magnificent St Stephen’s, Rosslyn Hall on Wednesday, 19^th December.

Organisers are holding an open casting call and Summer Sing Along event in central London on Thursday, 30^th August from 6.30pm where members of the games industry are invited to come along and share their talent, alongside colleagues including Andy Payne, John Clark and Ian Livingstone, who have already signed up to perform at the Christmas Concert.

IGN Entertainment’s Ian Chambers, Organiser and Musical Director, said: “The UK games industry is awash with talented individuals, and there’s nothing greater than music to unite us to raise money for GamesAid’s worthy causes.   You’ll be among friends, all are welcome and there will be no Cowellesque behaviour – just bring your musical instrument or your best singing voice and we’ll make good use of your talent.”

Further fundraising initiatives ahead of the concert will include the first-ever mince pie bake-off, judged by a panel of games industry veterans and a professional chef, and the chance to “nominate” your boss to perform a solo at the concert, by making a donation to GamesAid

To put your name forward and for more information about the GamesAid Christmas Concert and the Summer Sing Along casting call, please contact Ian Chambers – gamesaidconcert@gmail.com

For more information on the GamesAid Christmas Concert please visit http://www.justgiving.com/christmasconcert
All fundraising donations are gratefully received at www.justgiving.com/gamesaid.
All member of the UK Videogames Industry are encouraged to support GamesAid and become members by registering online at www.gamesaid.org

 
About GamesAid
GamesAid is a charity working within the UK Games and Interactive Entertainment Industry and acts as a means of giving something back on behalf of the industry.  It acts as an overarching broker of charitable activities and distributes funds to a diverse range of UK based charities. It is a non-trading body administered by Trustees and formally run by a chairman.

Funds are raised in a number of ways including, but not limited to: social or sporting events, individual and corporate donations, games packs and in-App purchases.

Charities supported must all be registered and will go through a due diligence process to ensure they meet the GamesAid requirements namely small to medium sized charities that have a turnover under £5m pa and who support children and young people based in the UK.

Anyone who works in the UK video games industry is eligible to become a member. Once a member they are updated with regular newsletters and can nominate charities for the rest of the membership to vote on to receive funds.