Excited pupils are gearing up for their biggest performance, that will see them represent the North East at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall.
St Peter’s RC Primary School, in Low Fell, will open this year’s Music for Youth Proms, organised by the Music for Youth charity. Providing performance and progression opportunities for young people, regardless of their background or musical style.
The talented choir, aged between nine and 12, will be the youngest performers to take to the iconic stage.
Choir member, Archie North, aged nine, said: “I was shocked to find out about the performance, but I’m excited because it’s such an important landmark in London and not many people get to perform there."
All 41 members of the choir have worked incredibly hard to secure the opportunity to perform at the proms. Their dedication was applauded by judges at the regional finals.
Speaking at the regional finals, established performer and Music for Youth judge, Adey Grummet, said: “Your meticulous preparation and terrific discipline is being used to produce music that has loads of expression in it. This is fantastic work.”
Teachers and parents at St Peter’s RC Primary School are incredibly proud of what the choir has achieved since they started competing in January 2017, at the vocal festival at Durham Cathedral.
Their popular rendition of Westlife’s ‘You Raise Me Up’ saw them take the title of Key Stage two choir of the year for the Northern Region.
Despite their sterling success and wealth of experience, the performers and choir conductor, Anne Porter, still recognise the huge responsibility of representing the region.
Anne, who helped to hone the choirs potential, said: “We are beyond excited at being selected and looking forward to performing. It will be quite daunting being the first act, but also wonderful to be part of the finale with all the other performers.”
Choir member, Lucy Nixon, aged 10, adds: "It’s very exciting that we are going to London, but it’s a big responsibility being the only primary school in the country to go through. I hope that we do a good job and everyone enjoys our performance."
To reward the pupils, the school has been holding fundraising events, to allow the pupils the opportunity to see the sights in London after their performance on November 12.
The events include a curry night hosted by parents from the Indian community, and a choir concert that helped to raise a massive £2,700 towards the trip.
Former pupil and choir member, Isabel Thrall, aged 11, will return to the school to continue with the choirs successful journey.
She said: “We are really looking forward to performing at the Royal Albert Hall and seeing the sights of London.”
Staff at the school have also set up a GoFundMe page to help raise £5000 towards the pupils sightseeing treat while they are in London.
