Showcase pupils raise their voices at town hall
YOUNGSTERS were in good voice at the borough’s first singing showcase.
The event saw soloists, bands and choirs from Cardinal Langley, Siddal Moor, Holy Family, Kingsway Park and Matthew Moss high schools all performing in the grand setting of the town hall.
Siddal Moor Vocal Group kicked the showcase off with a mix of pop and classical, including hit numbers from Coldplay and Lily Allen.
The songs were followed by solo drum performances, a series of duets that featured John Legend’s All of Me and a solo pianist performance of the hit Titanic song, My Heart Will Go On.
Many students performed stunning solos during the evening, highlights included Listen by Beyoncé and Sam Smith’s Too Good at Goodbyes. Bands were also in action at the showcase too covering Dani California by Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Hurt by Johnny Cash.
Rochdale Youth Choir closed the showcase on a high note with three of their favourites; The Call by Regina Spektor, If You’re out There by John Legend and Michael Bolton’s Lean on Me.
Coun Donna Martin, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “This is a great idea and I hope it grows with more schools getting involved. There is a fantastic range of music on offer from rock to choir and everything in between so I would really encourage others to get involved. Our children and young people are extremely talented and events like this give them an excellent platform to be celebrated.”
Joanne Astley, organiser of the showcase from the council’s music service, was grateful to all schools that took part and said: “This has been a great showcase for our very first one. Our aim was to increase the number of schools and pupils involved in singing and we’ve done this already but we can still achieve so much more so it will be exciting time for high schools with the return of the showcase each year.”
The event was set up by the council’s music service to get more high school pupils involved in performing.
For more information visit gmmusichub.co.uk/ rochdale.