Newcastle rocks the MOBOs: Northern Counties School steal the show with powerful sign language performance!
The Utilita Arena buzzed with energy on Tuesday 18 February, not just from the star-studded lineup at the MOBO Awards, but from the incredible performance of a very special group of students.
Deaf students from Northern Counties School in Jesmond, part of The Percy Hedley Foundation, took centre stage in a powerful video collaboration that lit up the arena’s giant screens.
Their British Sign Language (BSL) choir, a vibrant and expressive group, signed along to Ezra Collective’s uplifting track, “God Gave Me Feet For Dancing,” bringing the song’s message to life in a way that resonated deeply with the audience.
A special choir that truly captured hearts
This wasn’t just a performance; it was a celebration of inclusion and the power of communication. Invited by Newcastle and Gateshead City Council to participate in the MOBOs, local schools were given the opportunity to showcase their talent.
These young performers, who attend a specialist school designed for children with disabilities aged three to 19, got to witness their own performance on the big screen, sharing the spotlight with some of the biggest names in music.
Mandy Davison, Higher Level Special Support Assistant at Northern Counties leads the choir and teaches BSL to parents and carers within the Foundation. She said: “It’s so exciting for our BSL choir to have this exciting opportunity at the MOBOs. BSL was recognised as a language of England, Wales and Scotland from the BSL Act 2022 and it’s so important to have this representation on our screens.
“The MOBOs coming to Newcastle is a fantastic moment for the North East, and having our students in the spotlight makes it even more special. I hope that we see more representation of British Sign Language in the future.”
The choir regularly performs at events across the North East, spreading awareness and showcasing the beauty of their language. And now, they’ve taken their message to a national stage.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “These young performers have not only made their school and community proud, but they’ve also inspired countless others, proving that music and communication can break down barriers and bring us all together.
“The MOBOs may have been a night of celebration for the music industry, but for the students of Northern Counties, it was a night they’ll never forget – a night where their voices, expressed through the beauty of BSL, truly resonated.”
Northern Counties School is a Schools North East Partner School. If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School membership, click here.
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