Local schools collaborate for uplifting concert.
Pupils in Year 6 at Edgeborough School, Year 6 at Godalming Junior School and Years 5 & 6 at St Polycarp’s Catholic Primary School and the Charterhouse School choir delivered a powerful programme of music in the beautiful setting of the Charterhouse Chapel on Tuesday, 31 January.
Spearheaded by Director of Music at Edgeborough, Kate Davies, this community choral concert engaged some 200 children across the four schools. Freedom! The Power of Song was chosen as it celebrates the significant role communal singing has played throughout history, bringing people together in times of upheaval and struggle. The pupils learnt songs that spoke about different fights for freedom including the Suffragettes’ March, Civil Right Medley in memory of Martin Luther King, and a song dedicated to all those who fought in World War I.
Mrs Davies commented ‘We have long wanted to set up a community choral project and were delighted that Godalming Junior School and St Polycarp’s Farnham were excited to get involved. The opportunity to bring together so many children from different schools was an exciting experience for everyone allowing for fantastic collaboration, including the senior Charterhouse choir and professional musicians. I am grateful for all the hard work and commitment the schools brought to this project and to our Director of Vocal Studies, Robert Lewis, who visited each school on numerous occasions to coach the pupils directly.’
The evening was attended by the Mayor of Farnham, Cllr Alan Earwaker and parents from all the schools involved. The audience were wowed by the precision of the singing, the pride each school carried and the resounding joy and optimism of the event. The event firmly cemented the importance of Partnership work between schools to share learning and create truly special outcomes for those involved.
Karen Trafford, Deputy Head St Polycarp’s, Farnham commented ‘A big thank you for inviting our children to sing. Our children had a wonderful experience. The parents and staff who came to listen thoroughly enjoyed the event.’
Daniel Cox, Head at Edgeborough was inspired by the event, saying ‘I was uplifted and carried along by the power of the performances. Knowing the hard work involved by all schools, but that this was their first and only time performing together made it incredibly special. When groups of people work together towards one goal, anything can be achieved which makes me feels incredibly humbled as a person and incredibly proud as a teacher and as a Head. We hope this is the beginning of more great Partnership work with St Polycarps, Godalming Juniors and other local schools.
