More than 1,400 young people from 35 schools will perform in one of the world’s most famous concert halls as part of an annual celebration of young musical talent.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Celebration of Schools’ Music at Snape Maltings.
Over the last three decades more than 40,000 Suffolk school pupils have taken to the Concert Hall stage and performed to an audience of approximately 95,000.
From Tuesday, March 7 to Saturday, March 11, seven schools each day will spend an afternoon rehearsing before taking part in an evening concert.
Lizzie Woods, learning and inclusion manager at Snape, said: “Next week promises to be an exciting week with lots of variety.
“We have visited many of our performers in the run up to the event to help with their preparations and all the schools are sounding fantastic.
“The project is a great chance for them to experience the magic of performing on a world-famous stage where some of the greatest musicians have played.”
Schools taking part are state-funded (local authority maintained, academy or free school), representing primary, secondary and special schools.
As part of the 30th birthday celebrations, each evening will culminate in a party-themed Finale I Wish, a song written by award-winning composer, vocalist and passionate workshop facilitator Gwyneth Herbert, giving all the performers an opportunity to take to the stage once again and perform together.
Gwyneth said: “We went to this year’s Celebration performers and asked them for three wishes – one for themselves, one for someone they love, and one for the world.
“You can hear their words directly woven into the lyrics – funny, kind, moving, beguiling, prosaic, poetic; all honest and full of hope.
“The song is theirs and it’s one of genuine celebration – of Snape Maltings, and the extraordinary creative work they do; of singing, and the magical feeling of community it generates; of young people, and the fierce power of their voices. And it’s also an invitation: to make a wish… to make it bigger… and then to make it happen.”
Gwyneth will be joined by pianist Ned Cartwright.
This year the project has also seen the involvement of Aga Serugo-Lugo, musician and workshop leader, who has visited many of the schools in the run up to the week to help with their performance preparations. Aga will be joining each evening’s performance.
Performances begin at 7pm. Tickets are £8, under 27s half price, and are available from Snape Maltings Box Office on 01728 687110 or online at www.snapemaltings.co.uk.
Schools taking part are:
Tuesday 7 March
Claydon High School
Cliff Lane Primary School
Hillside Primary School
Nayland Primary School
Paddocks Primary School/Newmarket Academy
Stone Lodge Academy
Thomas Mills High School
Wednesday 8 March
Bardwell CEVC Primary School
East Bergholt High School
Gusford Primary School
Howard Community Primary School
Ormiston Endeavour Academy
Priory School, Bury St Edmunds
St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, Bury St Edmunds
Thursday 9 March
Bawdsey CEVC Primary School
Hadleigh Community Primary School
Leiston Primary School
Pot Kiln Primary School
Sidegate Primary School
Somerleyton Primary School
Stowupland High School
Friday 10 March
Exning Primary School
Hadleigh High School
Handford Hall Primary School
Rushmere Hall Primary School
Sir John Leman High School
St John’s CEVA Primary School
The Ashley School Academy Trust
Saturday 11 March
Debenham High School
Nacton CEVC Primary School
Ranelagh Primary School
St Alban’s Catholic High School
St Helen’s Primary School
St Pancras Catholic Primary School
Tattingstone CEVC Primary School
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here