Armonico Consort was delighted to give children from schools in Nuneaton, Bedworth and Warwickshire the incredible opportunity to sing with the world famous a cappella group, The King’s Singers, at the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick in March.
Students sang alongside The King’s Singers in an eclectic mix of songs, a highlight being a vocal symphony, Suitcase Full of Songs written by Toby Young and dedicated to refugees and migrant communities everywhere.
It was the culmination of Armonico Consort’s free, five-week Choir Creation scheme, in partnership with local music hub Warwickshire Music. The scheme creates new school choirs and nurtures existing ones, as well as training and mentoring teachers as choir leaders to leave a legacy of singing in each school.
Armonico Consort’s £300K Encore Appeal is raising vital funds to set up more Choir Creations, bringing high quality music education to schools in deprived areas.
With teachers having left, and many schools still not singing post-Covid, large numbers of children are missing out on the health and well-being, social and educational benefits of singing.
Singing is definitely a confidence boost for me. It has helped with my confidence and mental health. Music and singing make me want to come into school more – whatever is going on outside school I know that I can rely on music to help me get through it. Etone College student, Alyssia (Year 9)
Etone College, Nuneaton, was one of several schools which took part in the five-week Choir Creation course and performed alongside The King’s Singers in the concert.
I feel like this project has helped with giving us male musical role models. It shows that people can do singing professionally as a career, and they understand what you’re going through as a young man singing. Etone College student, Aidan (Year 10)
“We have had an established choir for a time, but this project has helped us to improve the quality of our performances, increase the complexity of music we can perform and also to engage with new members in our group. In sessions, not only have our students been able to learn music that has pushed them technically, but I’ve also had the support to help me improve my ability to rehearse a choir.” Etone College teacher, Hannah Kaye-Shepheard
Nicholas Chamberlaine School (Bedworth), George Eliot Academy (Nuneaton), and Warwickshire schools Barford St Peters CE Primary, Newburgh Primary and Heathcote Primary also participated in the Choir Creation scheme and sang with The King’s Singers, together with Armonico Consort’s AC Academy choirs Coventry, Solihull and Warwick, plus Warwick Scholars.
There are opportunities for Coventry state schools to receive a free, five-week Choir Creation course. Please contact sriddell@armonico.org.uk for details.
The Encore Appeal is raising £300K to enable Armonico Consort to create school choirs in deprived areas, provide composition and performance sessions for children with special educational needs and establish choirs for people living with dementia and their carers. Please donate if you are able. The Appeal is generously supported by Armonico Consort President Mr Roger Medwell MBE DL who will give 30p in the £1 for every £1 donated, up to the first £100,000 raised.
