Community choir singers turn ‘faces to the sky’ ahead of big performance
A Teesside education trust is bringing communities together through the power of music, with children, families and local residents singing side-by-side with leading London musicians as part of an inspiring new community choir project.
This culminated in a spectacular live performance at The Globe, Stockton,where audiences enjoyed big voices, huge smiles, and more than a few goosebumps along the way!
Bringing music to our local communities
Atomix Educational Trust, which runs Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough and Stockton Sixth Form college, as well as Errington Primary School in Marske, invited primary schools across Teesside to join them for a new community choir project: ‘With Our Faces to the Sky’
The schools had been actively rehearsing with music students from Prior Pursglove College for more than six months, ahead of the big performance on the evening of Thursday 21 May.
The community choir project is the brainchild of Noel Dennis, Director of Community and Partnerships at Atomix, who is following in the footsteps of his late father Kel Dennis, a music teacher and music co-ordinator.
The musicians involved include Pete Churchill, a professor of jazz studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and his daughter Imogen Churchill, a jazz singer/songwriter.
Noel, who is also an accomplished jazz musician, said: “One of the things I really want to bring to the Trust is music, and the choir project is a way of bringing music to our local communities.
“In this way, I can carry on some of the work that my Dad did in the Eston area, where he put a samba band in every school, culminating in a performance at the Riverside Stadium.
“The idea with the singing project was to bring a number of schools together and teach them some songs alongside a band from the Guildhall School of Music, and Drama and music students from Prior Pursglove College.”
His aim for the project was to empower primary school music teachers in the area and show them what is possible when the community comes together.
Noel’s daughter Eliza will be adding her voice to the event, making it a real family affair and reinforcing the connection of the event to her late grandad.
Noel said: “Although the event is connected to my late father’s previous work and will involve me playing the trumpet and Eliza singing a solo, I like to think that we are widening the concept of family to include the whole community – making it bigger and more inclusive.
“This sense of community is something which is hugely important to Atomix, and the idea of bringing people together through music is something which excites us. Our own CEO Nichole is a singer, and we have many musicians across the Trust.”
Empowering young people and their teachers
Frida Payne Chadwick, aged 10, of St John the Baptiste Primary School in Stockton, said: “Before this, I was already singing because I love to sing! It’s so cool to be in a choir with such great teachers as well. I reckon the show is going to be great – I might be a bit nervous, but nerves are good.”
Mia Dowson, aged nine, of Kader Academy in Acklam, added: “I just love singing – it’s one of my favourite things! Bringing everyone together and getting the songs out there has been a beautiful thing.”
Dr Nichole Munro, CEO of Atomix Educational Trust, said: “As a Trust, it’s our ambition to be at the heart of every community we serve – and what better way is there to engage local people than bringing them together to make music.
“The feedback we have received about this choir project has been phenomenal; we are truly empowering young people and their teachers, making them aware of the benefits of bringing music into the curriculum and demonstrating what is possible in this field.
“The benefits to the young people also go far beyond singing and playing an instrument, as they learn self-confidence, teamwork and many other soft skills linked to employability.”
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “Projects like this show the extraordinary impact music can have in bringing people together. Seeing young people, families, teachers and professional musicians sharing a stage is a powerful reminder that education is about far more than academic success.
“It’s about confidence, creativity, belonging and community. The atmosphere at The Globe was truly inspiring, and everyone involved should feel incredibly proud.”