National Centre for Early Music

Sing Up York Massed Choir

The National Centre for Early Music worked with The National Singing Programme, Sing Up, to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Henry Purcell - one of England's finest composers in a series of celebrations.

In autumn 2009, the NCEM worked with over 500 primary school children from 12 schools in York to prepare a short piece to perform at the Schools Prom at The Royal Albert Hall on 9 November 2009. The schools that took part were: New Earswick, Dringhouses, Dunnington, Heworth, Fishergate, Wigginton, St Wilfrid's RC, Park Grove, St Georges RC, Robert Wilkinson, Hempland Primary Schools, Bootham Junior School and the Minster Minstrels - York's Young Early Music Ensemble.

The piece, known as 'Ode on the 350th Birthday of Mr Henry Purcell' was especially commissioned from Cathedral composer Dr Richard Shephard. The young peoples' choir will be directed by Susan Hollingworth, musical director of the Scunthorpe Co-operative Junior Choir who won the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year in 2008. The young people performed the piece to over 5000 people at The Royal Albert Hall and were praised by all for an outstanding performance.

The young people performed a special preview concert to over 1000 people in York Minster on Wednesday 4th November prior to their London appearance.

Following on from this project, the NCEM has developed an on-line educational resource for Key Stage 2 teachers. The resource, is available in the Learning Resource section and includes special arrangements of Purcell's music for young voices and activity ideas for teachers.

View more images online: Royal Albert Hall   York Minster

Read feedback about the School's Prom

Below are some audio clips of the young people's choir singing in York Minster.

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