AS LOCKDOWN continues and the pubs are yet to open, wind down with a unique event and help raise money for charity.

Winchester-born saxophonist Claire Tomsett-Rowe will host Jazz for Cocktails, or indeed jazz with any other beverage of your choice, live on Facebook at 5pm on Saturday (June 27). Claire, asecret violinist, led the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra before moving to study at the Purcell School of Music in Bushey. She read music at Nottingham, studying saxophone with Alistair Parnell.

Claire was assistant musical director of the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain and currently plays with Equinox Saxophone Ensemble; performing throughout the UK and Europe, and at every World Sax Congress since 2006.

During the day she is the director of music and performing arts at Wetherby Prep School in London, but behind the scenes, she is a keen composer published by Saxtet Publications and Masquerade Music.

“This concert is taking me back to my roots,” says Claire. “My love of the saxophone was inspired by listening to jazz music as a child, and my programme will include many favourites from the Great American Songbook, including numbers by Gershwin, Berlin, and Waller.”

The concert will be streamed live on Home-Start Winchester & District’s Facebook page and on Claire’s Instagram (goblinctr) live at 5pm on Satuday, and will be available to view until Saturday, June 4.

Barbara and Martin Tomsett, Claire’s parents, still live in Winchester and Martin is a trustee of Home-Start.

If you like what you hear, the charity is asking you to consider donating to Home-Start Winchester & Districts at Virgin Money Giving.