Schools in the North East were invited to sing in a number of locations in Newcastle City Centre last week to take part in the Newcastle Sings Schools’ Festival Day.
Each school had a different route through the city and they were given three locations to sing in. Some locations were indoor and others outside with families turning up to listen to their children singing. Among the schools involved were: Amberley Primary, Cragside Primary, Hotspur Primary, Monkseaton Middle, Walbottle Academy and Walkergate Primary.
Also attending was Sir Charles Parsons School who strive to provide music education for all their Key Stage 3 students. As part of this provision, they not only follow the national curriculum, differentiated appropriately, but also promote singing for enjoyment and participation by all students. To achieve this the school has a singing and signing choir.
In the past, the singing and signing choir has performed at the Northern Stage in Newcastle and at various other venues.
The school said they were “delighted to be taking part in the Newcastle Sings Festival.” In attendance was one group of year 7 and another of year 8 students across two venues in Newcastle. Due to Covid restrictions, this was the first opportunity the students have had to perform outside of school. Each group of 20 students performed twice, one group in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Parents and carers turned up to watch the performers at the Laing Art Gallery and at the City library.
Jacqui Walker, music teacher at Sir Charles Parsons School said:
“Taking part in this citywide celebration of singing is a great opportunity for our students to be a visible part of our community and to share our joy in singing with others. As our school mission statement says: ‘Enjoy, Learn and Achieve!’”
The West Jesmond Primary choir of 80 young singers performed at the Newcastle Cathedral, the Live Theatre and at the Great North Museum. The choir were led by Joanna Anderson, the school’s music lead and have performed all across the region who said “Music is very important to the school and it has been a huge positive this year for the schools bands and choirs to be able meet, rehearse and perform again!”
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East commented:
“Its wonderful that amazingly talented North East students are given such a prominent platform to display their talents and the benefits of a broad and balanced curriculum to them and the wider community. Newcastle Sings has given schools the opportunity to showcase the work which students do in their music lessons. This has been extremely successful particularly for schools such as Sir Charles Parsons School who have music as a core part of their curriculum.”
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