Pupils taking centre stage
Youngsters from schools across the Portsmouth region will be singing their hearts out in front of the masses
A WEEK of musical performances will give young people the chance to showcase their talents.
Portsmouth Schools’ Music Festival will be running from Monday to Friday next week, giving children of all ages the chance to sing, dance and play instruments on stage in front of a packed-out crowd.
The festival, now in its 92nd year, is being held at Portsmouth Guildhall, with almost 3,000 pupils from 57 schools taking part in the event.
Festival director Becky Hill says that the event leaves an everlasting impression on youngsters with a passion for performing – allowing them to chase their dreams and inspiring them to achieve. She said: ‘I’m very proud of the Portsmouth Schools’ Music Festival and what it represents. ‘We have people who are teachers today who have told me about how they remember performing musical numbers on stage when they were kids, so it’s definitely an experience that will stick with them. ‘It’s all about getting them on stage and giving them the chance to perform – they get really excited about doing that and it’s incredible to watch them take it all in.’ This year’s event has expanded even further afield, with one school coming to the event from Bognor Regis in Sussex.
Volunteer and mum Sarah Durber says the experience is rewarding for both the children and organisers.
She said: ‘There is nothing that compares to watching the children perform – it’s really lovely for them.
‘That’s why we love doing this event; it’s going to be a great experience for them.’
Tickets are available for purchase from the Guildhall box office (0844 847 2362).
Portsmouth is on the up with a record number of businesses opening and new events being held in the city. The News is celebrating this exciting time with our City Buzz campaign as we are proud of our city and its vibrancy. If you would like to nominate a new business or event, e-mail newsdesk@thenews.co.uk or call (023) 9262 2118.