Pupils sing all the way to choir crown
Sunderland youngsters brought the city to life with the sound of music when they took to the stage in the annual City Sings school choir competition.
This year the event, held at the Sunderland Empire theatre, was in celebration of the City of Culture 2021 bid and based on the theme of friendship.
Children from nine primary and two secondary schools across Wearside were selected to perform on Sunday, in front of a packed audience of more than 2,000 people and a judging panel.
Castletown Primary School choir, led by musical director Caoimhe Nichomhrai, was crowned the winning school for its performance of Can’t Help Falling in Love and He Lives In You.
They received the Dr Gilbert Trophy for musical achievement and a cheque for £200.
Joan Lumsdon, headteacher of the school, in Barons Quay Road, said she was so proud of her pupils and staff.
“We had 60 children aged between six and 11 years old take part in the competition,” she said.
“The choir is fully incluPeace sive of all abilities and the children just love it.
“The staff were amazing and I am so proud of the children.”
Launched in 2004, City Sings is organised by Sunderland City Council and funded by the Arts Council DfE music education hub fund, delivered through Sunderland Music Hub.
Other schools which took part included John F Kennedy Primary School, St Paul’s Primary School, East Herrington Primary School, Our Lady Queen of and Hetton Lyons Primary School.
St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Diamond Hall Junior School, Red House Academy School, Houghton Kepier School and Newbottle Primary also took part.
New prizes were introduced this year, with East Herrington winning £100 as an extremely close runnerup, St Paul’s Primary receiving £100 for most entertaining choir, and a special prize of six sessions with a vocal expert for the most promising choir of the night went to Diamond Hall Junior School.
This year the event saw Martin Longstaff from The Lake Poets perform a song with pupils from St Paul’s Primary School specially written for the culture bid.
Rebecca Pedlow, manager of the Sunderland Music Hub, which provides school music services on behalf of the council, said: “It’s an experience that no one involved with the choirs will ever forget, performing on the stage of the magnificent Sunderland Empire to a full house of more than 2,000 people.”
“It was lovely to see the camaraderie between schools”
JOAN LUMSDON