300 children from 6 schools perform together in a youth music celebration

On Tuesday 28^th and Wednesday 29^th June over 300 children from six schools in the West Bridgford and Wilford area joined forces to sing in two concerts at the Nottingham Emmanuel School.

For the past two months singing animateurs from Music for Everyone have been leading two types of workshops, one especially designed for boys and one especially designed for girls, in six primary schools in the West Bridgford and Wilford area for children in school years 3 - 6.

On the 28^th and 29^th of June the Voices 2011 project culminated in two wonderful concerts where over 300 children from all of the schools came together at the Emmanuel School, West Bridgford to perform songs from well known musicals Annie and Oliver to their friends and families.

In school workshops were led by Helen Hayes, Jane McDouall and Elizabeth Lee who all have a wealth of experience encouraging young people to sing in a variety of contexts, including our ever popular Vocals courses. Helen Hayes said “Music for Everyone is passionate about inspiring a life-long love of singing from the youngest age. The project was funded to get more young people singing, we split the boys from the girls because often boys are reluctant to sing and are embarrassed about it. We wanted the boys and girls to own the fact that they have fantastic voices and enjoy singing. We feel the project has been a great success and really hope that the young people involved will keep up with their music making.”

Nottingham Boys’ Voices and Nottingham Girls’ Voices, Music for Everyone’s very own youth choirs for ages 8 - 14, also performed pieces in the concert.

The Lord Mayor of Nottingham Councillor Michael Wildgust, the Lady Mayoress and Councillor John Cottee County Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Community in Nottinghamshire were all in attendance at the concerts and enjoyed the children’s performances enormously. Councillor John Cottee said “a very enjoyable concert and great to see all the young girls enjoying their singing.” 

Angela Kay, Artistic Director of Music for Everyone said “The children taking part made a wonderful sound; The concerts were a fantastic celebration of youth music-making.”