Children from Holy Rosary and St. Anne’s Primary, Leeds; St. Benedict’s Primary, Garforth and St. Ignatius’ Primary, Ossett entertained their audience with a variety of songs from different cultures and languages, including Italian, Zulu and Polynesian. They were joined by choristers from the Cathedral’s own Boys’ and Girls’ choirs, who complemented the schools’ music with that of Pergolesi, Franck, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous Pie Jesu. The children were also treated to hear the Cathedral Organ being played at full capacity by Christopher McElroy, the Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral, who played J.S. Bach’s dazzling Toccata in D Minor.
The whole evening was topped and tailed by massed choir pieces, including Go Down Jonah from Jonah Man Jazz, the musical cantata by Michael Hurd. Every song was sung from memory; the effort, discipline and enthusiasm of every child was outstanding and made the evening into a very enjoyable event.
The concert was introduced by Mgr Michael Mcquinn, Vicar General, who welcomed the children and their families to the ‘mother church’ of the Diocese.
The concert, directed by Charlotte Kitson, (Choral Director for the Diocese of Leeds) forms part of the Cathedral’s commitment to the ‘Sing Up!’ programme, facilitated by the Government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families. The aim of the programme is to make singing central to children’s lives in school, in the home and in the wider community. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to learn things when you sing them?
Cathedral Choirs are becoming increasingly involved with promoting singing and instrumental playing in their locality and are at the forefront of the ‘Sing Up!’ campaign to boost singing in primary schools. The Diocese of Leeds operates the largest Catholic youth singing program in the UK, with over 1000 children taking part in singing each week!
The next ‘Sing Up!’ concert will take place on Tuesday 17th June in the Cathedral, and will feature six primary schools from the Kirklees area, joined by the choir of All Saints’ Catholic College, Huddersfield a few weeks before they travel to compete in the World Choir Olympics in Austria!
Photos: © Patrick Sice
All Saints is one of two schools selected from ten from across the country who performed in a dedicated showcase for The Opal Choir Project this week (16 April) at the Royal Albert Hall. The event, The Magic of Music, was the culmination of a challenging journey of hard work and training with Choir Director, Christopher McElroy, Assistant Director of Music for the Diocese of Leeds. The concert was the highlight of an expenses-paid trip to London, which included a visit to the Natural History Museum and a trip on the London Eye.
