Westminster Abbey Listens to Violinist for Japan Earthquake Memorial

June 6, 2011 at 4:03 PM

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey, one of the most significant buildings in England echoed the beautiful sounds of Solo Violinist Diana Yukawa as she paid respect with a performance at The Great East Japan Earthquake Memorial Service.

In the presence of HRH The Duke of Gloucester, The Mayor of Westminster and HE Mr. Keiichi Hayashi, Ambassador of Japan together with some 2000 people at Westminster Abbey Diana performed Summer Elegy from her album The Butterfly Effect.

The Dean and Chapter of Westminster welcomed HRH The Duke of Gloucester, patron of the Japan Society as well as HE Mr Keiichi Hayashi, Ambassador of Japan, to Westminster Abbey for the time of remembrance for the earthquake that devastated the north-eastern coast of Japan, on 11 March 2011.

The service was conducted by the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, and the Address was given by the Venerable Dr Michael Ipgrave, Archdeacon of Southwark. Mr Henry Bellingham MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office was also present.

A floral tribute was laid at the Innocent Victims’ Memorial during the Act of Remembrance. In addition to a prayer of commendation offered by the Dean, Buddhist monks from Nipponzan Myohoji offered prayers for the living and the dead.

The evening had a great balance of east meets west, perhaps most notably so with violinist Diana Yukawa being half British and half Japanese.

A retiring collection was taken in aid of the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal.

Violinist Diana Yukawa

Westminster Abbey Article

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