HUNDREDS of Herefordshire and Shropshire primary school children have come together under the watchful eye of Hereford Cathedral School’s Music Director to produce a Herefordshire and Diocese Schools’ Christmas Concert.
In this extraordinary and challenging year, many children across the UK have missed out on music education and cultural opportunities, leading to a debate in the House of Commons this week that music education needs recognition from the Government “perhaps more so now than ever before”.
Schools across Herefordshire and beyond have long enjoyed their involvement in Hereford Cathedral School’s music outreach programme, and this year is no exception. Through this programme, hundreds of children work with Hereford Cathedral School Director of Music, David Evans, each year and gather together in Hereford Cathedral to see in the festive season.
This year, things are a little different, but that has not stopped Hereford Cathedral School coming together with eight other schools to produce a joint carol service virtually.
Mordiford CE Primary School, Bishop Hooper CE Primary, Bishop’s Castle Primary School, St Paul’s Primary School and Gorsley Goffs Endowed Primary School have given musical performances alongside Hereford Cathedral’s Senior School choirs: Cantabile Girls’ Choir, Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, the Gilbert Consort, Colla Voce and Year 7 Junior Choir. The service also includes tableau performances from Holmer CE Academy, Clehonger CE Primary School and St James’ CE Primary School.
Canon Andrew Teale, Director of Education for the Hereford Diocesan Board of Education, has been pleased to see this project come together: “This wonderful joint carol service brings comfort and joy, just when we all need it most. It is a wonderful collaboration between schools from across the diocese.
“There is nothing like hearing children’s voices singing together at Christmas and we might have feared that 2020 would be a silent celebration. Not a bit of it! Joyful music sung with all the enthusiasm that Christmas brings, by hundreds of school children from all across our diocese.”
Mr Evans added: “I’m so grateful that we have been able to find a way forward to work with children throughout the Diocese in many different forms and maintain some element of normality and cultural wellbeing in these extraordinary times.
“So often, music is a lifeline to many, and I hope that all, at whatever stage of life, will enjoy what these motivated children and young people have strived so hard to achieve against the odds.”
The Herefordshire and Diocese Schools’ Christmas Concert will be streamed at 6pm on Monday 14 December. Visit www.herefordcs.com to watch live or access the recording after the event.
