15 December 2025
The 8th December 2025 saw internationally renowned soprano, Carly Paoli, co-host and lead the performances at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice’s Winter Concert – ‘Joyful Voices’.
The heart-warming event was held at Allum Manor Hall in Elstree and was attended by 300 guests. The fundraising event raised an incredible £20k to help fund Noah’s Ark’s support for children and families in north central London.
Introducing Carly Paoli
Carly Paoli was born in Mansfield of Anglo-Italian parentage. Carly was described by His Holiness, Pope Francis, as having the voice of an angel. She has performed in many iconic venues around the world including the Roman Forum, The Royal Albert Hall, The London Palladium and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and with many great artists including Andrea Bocelli, Sir Rod Stewart, Jose Carreras, Joseph Calleja and Michael Bolton.
Carly has also performed for His and Her Majesty, the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince and Princess of Wales and has toured with Alfie Boe and Aled Jones. She has also established her own series of concerts in Galatina, Italy where her grandfather was born.
Plus the vocal talent from five local schools and two very special opera singers
Guests were also treated to festive performances from the children’s choirs of Belmont Prep School, Hadley Wood Primary School, Goodwyn Primary School, St Martin’s Primary School and Courtland Primary School plus a very special performance from trained opera singers Katie and Tom. Katie also helped to organise the event, using her specialist skills as the principal of Little Voices North London.
Little Voices North London provides drama and singing lessons and camps for children in schools and public centres. Katie also runs Little Voices Together, delivering inclusive music, drama and singing classes for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.
Support from Noah's Ark
We have been supporting Tom and Katie and their three children, Leia, aged six, Robin, aged 4, and Dylan, age 2, since 2019. Shortly after Leia’s premature birth, the couple received the devastating news that Leia had severe white matter damage to her brain and serious renal issues, caused by a rare mitochondrial disease, which led to Tom donating one of his kidneys to his daughter. The family were referred through Great Ormond Street Palliative Care Team to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.
The family now access most of the services at Noah’s Ark; Leia receives Music Therapy and overnight respite care, which is vital for the family as it’s the only place they can leave Leia. Katie and Tom are both in the specially created parent’s groups and Robin and Dylan receive specialised sibling support.
Raising Vital Funds
Fundraising events like Joyful Voices are crucial in helping to fund our charity's annual running costs of over £7m, where fundraising and private donations account for 75% of our income.
Carly Paoli said:
"It was a pleasure and privilege to perform for Noah’s Ark Children's Hospice's Joyful Voices Concert alongside local school choirs who have all raised money to help the hospice continue its vital work. That will be my abiding memory of the evening, children helping other children. To me, that is the spirit of Christmas."
Alison Goodman, Deputy CEO of Noah's Ark, and co-host of the event said:
"Joyful Voices was an incredible evening full of festive spirit and heart-warming performances from five school choirs, Katie and Tom, and acclaimed soprano, Carly Paoli. These events are not only an amazing way for our community to come together they are also important opportunities for us to highlight our work, engage new supporters, and raise the essential funds needed to continue supporting our children and families."
Katie said:
"It was a true pleasure to help organise and perform at the Joyful Voices Concert. Noah's Ark does such important work for families like ours and we are so honoured to be able to give back and raise awareness of the vital services they offer."
With kind thanks to everyone who made this special evening possible and came to support Joyful Voices. Plus special thanks to Katie and Tom for allowing us to share their family story.
You can read Leia's story here.
