Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Young singers wow on new charity album
Pupils savour recording studio experience
Creative youngsters from All Saints and St Stephen’s primaries wrote and recorded original songs for a new schools’ charity album.
Senior pupils from each school worked together and with expert instructors to write a melody and lyrics on the theme of “incredible structures”, and created artwork to be used as a CD cover.
The Primary Six group from All Saints produced a song entitled Beaver’s Dam, while P7 classes at St Stephen’s wrote theirs about a beehive.
They then recorded their track, with the results being professionally mastered at Reeltime Studios.
Now the results, along with songs from six other North Lanarkshire schools, have been combined onto a CD which is available to buy from both schools, and to stream through iTunes and Spotify – with all profits going to the youngsters’ chosen charities.
The Airdrie and Coatbridge schools worked with creative writer Robin Cairns, composer Michael Brawley, artist Susan Kennedy and Kodaly choral specialists Ann Wright and Fraser Simpson on their projects – part of North Lanarkshire’s youth music initiative, with the theme of “our fragile planet”.
The St Stephen’s participants said: “We went to our local church and recorded our song professionally, split into groups of eight so all our voices were heard clearly.
“We enjoyed every moment of this experience and would like to thank all of the professionals and staff who helped us on this song-writing journey.” All Saints said: “We were excited and inspired. It was strange singing with the headphones on but we loved the experience and would love to do it again some day.
“We feel privileged to have participated in the amazing Youth Music Initiative.
“Primary Six pupils enjoyed every minute, and have become beaver experts! They are amazing little creatures and their dams are definitely incredible structures.”
The two choirs performed their songs live at an event in Motherwell Concert Hall, hosted by former BBC presenter Heather Reid.
Education convener Frank McNally said: “The talent and creativity of our pupils is something we should all be extremely proud of, and I’d like to thank everyone involved in this fantastic project.”
Council assistant chief executive Isabelle Boyd added: “The choirs involved in the concert represent the talent and diversity which is alive and well in schools across our area.”