Young Voices 2011
It’s not often that children get the opportunity to sing in front of an audience of 20,000 people at London’s O2 arena! The choir of Haddenham Community Junior School did just that on January 12th. 41 members of the school choir joined singers from 175 other schools to form a massive choir in a programme ranging from classical to pop music in style and finishing with a spectacular Michael Jackson Tribute.
Our children loved it: report by a Yr 5 singer...
The O2 is awesome. It’s so huge that Mrs Green took her binoculars. After finding our seats we settled down to eat our picnic lunch before rehearsing for the big show that evening starting at 7pm.
There were nearly 8000 children singing together as one choir so we had to really concentrate and listen to the conductor who was also having to shout at the musicians. We had to learn some new dance moves to go with some of the songs which was fun because we were all squashed together in our seats and trying to bop without banging into each other.
The rehearsal finished at 5pm and we were all pleased to have tea and an ice-cream. The concert started at 7pm with lots of flashing lights and loud music, we were all buzzing with excitement and couldn’t believe how many people had come to watch. The conductor introduced each of the schools performing and then we went straight into our first song ‘The Moment’.
One of the best things were the dance group who came on half way through, especially the Michael Jackson impersonator who was brilliant. When we sang Bright Eyes we were joined by a professional group of four girls called Angels who sang the descant which sounded amazing.
By the end of the concert we were all very hot and sweaty but really pleased that everyone had enjoyed themselves. By the time we got back to our coach it was really late and most of us fell asleep on the journey home!
... as well as their parents
“Matthew said it was ‘the best day of his life’!”
“Caitlin could not stop smiling and had a marvellous time - as did Darren and I.”
“Our feedback would be WoW! - amazing and such a fabulous experience / confidence boost to the kids and definitely an exercise to repeat! (please!)”
“Thank you also for organising the choir's trip to the O2 and for giving them (and us!) the fantastic opportunity to be part of such a special event. Jerome really enjoyed it and although he is understandably very tired today, I know it is a day he will never forget.”
“I just wanted to let you know we had a fantastic evening last night, and the first thing Matilda said this morning was "I want to go again"!”
“What a fab event! Unbelievable that there were so many children and adults! (20,000) An incredible event to take part in and I'm sure Louisa will not forget it.”
“Judging by the buzz on this coach, everyone loved it” (text from Parent’s coach on the way home) “It was awesome!” “Brilliant!”
“ ...they did not stop the whole time.......they were moving and jigging and seemed to have huge smiles on their faces. I was obviously watching Michael and his friends a lot and they never stopped dancing!! I was a very proud parent!...”
Poem from a parent.
