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Children from two Plymouth schools travelled to the Midlands last week to be part of one of the largest choirs in the world - and perform with one the country’s best-known singers.
Fourteen children from Manadon Vale and the same number from Widey Court, travelled to Birmingham on Thursday, January 26 to appear in the Young Voices 2023 concert at the World Resort Arena.
The two schools from Connect Academy Trust joined together for the trip, having been working on the songs and choreography since the start of the autumn term.
Young voices bring together around 6000 children for the event which involved an overnight stay for the children to allow for the travel time.
It is designed to inspire a lasting love of music and create lifelong memories for the children and their families.
This year, the event featured Heather Small best known as the lead vocalist for the group, M People.
At the concert, the pop star led the choir in a rousing rendition of Proud which had all the children on their feet in a choreographed performance.
Other highlights were an electric violin performed alongside some of the worlds best beat-boxers, creating a fusion of classic and modern music that filled the stadium.
Sarah Ryder of Connect Academy Trust said: ‘The concert is always a sell-out. Children from Manadon Vale have been taking part for a few years and we were delighted that another connect school wanted to join us this year. Its an incredible event, the atmosphere is electric, and the children just thrive on the performance’.
She added: ‘We are already thinking about the future and since all our schools have a great musical tradition, we’d love to have all of our family of eight primary schools taking part together. Connect has a strong collaborate ethos so I can’t see anything stopping us from making that happen’
Shaun Nicholls, Headteacher at Widey Court Primary, said: ‘Obviously it's a really early start from Plymouth to get there in time for the afternoon rehearsal but the concert in the evening was incredible. This is the first time I have been to Young Voices and I can see why the children work so hard to get here.’
Article by Andy Phillips, Plymouth Live.