Magic of Music Winners!
TO AUSTRIA WITH SONG!
INNER-CITY SCHOOL CHOIRS RAISE THE ROOF AT ALBERT HALL
SCRATCH CHOIRS FROM HUDDERSFIELD AND WALSALL WIN COVETED PLACES IN WORLD CHOIR GAMES
Two inner-city secondary schools who created choirs from scratch eight months ago in a project inspired by tv documentary The Choir have sung their way to the World Choir Games in Austria this summer.
Sneyd Community School in Walsall and All Saints Catholic School in Huddersfield were selected from ten state secondary schools who performed in a dedicated showcase for The Opal Choir Project this month (16 April) at the Royal Albert Hall. The event, The Magic of Music, was the culmination of a challenging journey spanning six months of hard work and training with local higher-education and music partners. For many of the 300 young people taking part the concert was the highlight of a first-ever visit to London, which included a tour of the Palace of Westminster and a trip on the London Eye.
In line with the aims of the Music Manifesto, The Opal Choir Project was created with the ambition of “helping bring music back into education.” At a time when Britain is facing a crisis of confidence in its teenagers, it has offered everyone involved an opportunity to acquire a new set of skills and to perform in one of the most iconic concert halls in the world. Whilst offering the young people from the Huddersfield and Walsall choirs a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the World Choir Games in Austria, the project will leave a lasting legacy of music in all ten schools.
The Magic of Music was hosted by Songs of Praise and ex Blue Peter presenter Diane-Louise Jordan and featured guest performances from the London Metropolitan University Choir and award-winning trio Tenors Un Limited. The evening featured a wide range of musical style and genres,- from classical through to traditional African, gospel and pop - and climaxed in a rousing finale of Nessun Dorma and You Raise Me Up with all the choirs.
An expert panel of judges included: Founder and Principal of The Voices Foundation Suzi Digby, singer and actress Sharon D Clarke (best known for her roles as Dr Lola Griffin in Holby City and Mama Morton in Chicago), vocal coach and musical director Stuart Barr and David Broadhurst, Stuart Wall’s former teacher who initiated the founder of this project’s life-long love of music.
Representing the panel, Suzi Digby said:
“We were particularly impressed with the musicality, style and programme of the Walsall and Huddersfield choirs, but it is important to acknowledge that every choir rose the occasion of performing in the Albert Hall. All the participants should feel immensely proud of this achievement, which is a prize in itself. To all the courageous young people who gave their all on this world-famous stage, the message is “keep on singing!”
Host Diane Louise Jordan said:
“Throughout this project the teachers and choir masters have noticed a change in the young people. Beyond learning to sing, they are more confident and they are learning to take initiative, to work beyond the school curriculum and hours. They are making a conscious decision to take some responsibility – not just for their own lives – but for the lives of the other people who they’re working with.”
Stuart Wall of The Opal Foundation said:
“The Magic of Music was a wonderful occasion - a real tribute to the courage and commitment of all the young people taking part, their choir masters and teachers. Our congratulations to Sneyd Community School and All Saints Catholic School for their outstanding performances. We will now be supporting the choirs all the way through to The World Choir Games and wish them all the best for the next stage of this extraordinary journey!”
Good Luck to both Syned and All Saints in Austria in July!
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