Schools in harmony
Two highly inspirational choir workshops took place this week with over 250 young people in Crawley and Worthing as part of a county-wide singing programme provided by West Sussex Music (WSM).
Sings Live! is an initiative organised and run by WSM, aimed at secondary school choirs (11-18 yr olds). It involves training for school-based teachers, a workshop and then rehearsals that lead to two public performances in the spring.
West Sussex is a large area, which is why Sings Live! is split into two projects North and South, to ensure all schools get the opportunity to practise and perform as a massed choir.
WSM is fortunate to have built a partnership with one of the UK’s finest professional choral groups, The Sixteen and this week’s workshops were led by Genesis Sixteen alumni conductor, Olivia Shotton, and WSM’s School Singing Leader Rachel Maby.
Crawley’s workshop had seven schools taking part, coming together as Sings Live! North: Hazlewick School, Ifield Community College, Imberhorne School, Oathall Community College, The College of Richard Collyer, The Forest School, and The Gatwick School. The Sings Live! North performance will take place at Christ’s Hospital in February.
Worthing’s workshop had six schools taking part, coming together as Sings Live! South: Felpham Community College, Oak Grove College, Ormiston Six Villages Academy, St Oscar Romero Catholic School, St Paul’s Catholic College, and The Littlehampton Academy. The Sings Live! South performance will take place at Worthing Assembly Hall in February.
Students at the events enjoyed themselves, one called Emrys said:
‘It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, absolutely amazing. It was really nice to sing with all the different schools.’
James Underwood, Chief Executive for West Sussex Music, said:
“We are really proud of our Sings Live! programme and the uplifting experience that performing as part of a massed choir gives to young people. Bringing young people together from across the county in a common purpose is very rewarding. We’re indebted to our partners The Sixteen for the opportunity work with Olivia to help kickstart the Sings Live! programme and to the music teachers in schools who will now work with their students over the next four months to prepare for the public performances in the spring.”
If you know of a young person who wants to take their singing further, West Sussex Music runs two county-wide choirs at its Horsham Music Centre on Saturdays. For more information about how to join, and other musical opportunities, go to www.westsussexmusic.co.uk/choir
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