Over 1,000 pupils from primary schools across Thurrock joined singers from the Royal Opera and Ballet House to perform in the Thurrock Junior Music Festival
Between Tuesday 8 July and Thursday 10 July, over (750 children), aged 7 to 11, performed a variety of musical hits including rock, pop, gospel and opera songs.
Thurrock’s primary schools were well-represented over the three evening performances, with (Belmont Castle Academy, Corringham Primary, Gateway Free Primary, Herringham Primary, Lansdowne Primary, Orsett CoE Primary, Purfleet Primary, St Thomas of Canterbury Primary, Tilbury Pioneer Academy, West Thurrock Academy, Abbots Hall Primary, Arthur Bugler Primary, Bonnygate Primary, Chadwell St Mary, Deneholm Primary, Dilkes Academy, Kennington's Primary, Quarry Hill Academy, Shaw Primary, Somers Heath, Tudor Court Primary, Aveley Primary, East Tilbury Primary, Giffards Primary, Harris Primary Academy Chafford Hundred, Harrris Primary Mayflower, Holy Cross Catholic Primary, Little Thurrock Primary, St Mary's Catholic Primary, Stanford-Le-Hope Primary, Warren Primary and Woodside Academy) all taking part. Families took to The Civic Hall’s in Grays to watch the entertainment unfold.
The theme for this year's festival was Songs from Musicals and films with hits such as "Defying Gravity", "Oh Happy Day", "We're All In This Together" and "You Can't Stop The Beat" being performed. The young performers had the opportunity to share the stage with a prestigious opera singer, Ellie Moran and the accomplished pianist, Phoebe Chow from the Royal Ballet Opera.
The performances were supported by music groups from across the borough including Thurrock Youth Training Orchestra, Thurrock Gospel Choir, Thurrock Musical Theatre Group, Thurrock Rock School, Thurrock Steel Pan, GLC schools & Kinetika Bloco, Thurrock Guitar Ensemble, Woodside Academy Steel Pan Group, Kennington's Tuned Percussion Group, Hathaway Brass & Woodwind Endangered Music Project, who all performed.
Cllr Vikki Hartstean, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Community Safety, said: “It is an absolute joy that so many of Thurrock’s children have had the opportunity to take to the stage to showcase their talents. All of our young performers should be extremely proud of themselves and I hope they’ve been left inspired to carry on with their musical journey.”
Cllr John, Kent, Cabinet Member for Sustainability, Art, Culture and Heritage, said: “Our borough is home to so many talented groups for our young people to explore the arts. It’s fantastic that we’re able to organise performances like the Junior Music Festival, which give pupils the opportunity to learn musical skills and perform in front of hundreds of people.
“If anyone is interested in developing their musical skills, whether its picking up an instrument for the first time or moving up your grades, I couldn’t recommend Thurrock Music Service enough.”
For information about Thurrock Music Service, go to thurrockmusic.co.uk
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