A Cumbrian choir is taking part in the world premiere of songs by leading composer Russell Hepplewhite and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen.
Everything – 12 songs to fire up the imagination of youngsters – was due to be premiered last year, but was postponed due to COVID-19. Only two of the songs were released and the remaining 10 will have their debut on Friday.
Each of thesongs that have not yet been heard will be performed by 10 choirs who were selected after entering an open call in December last year and hail from across the UK and Ireland.
Us will be performed by Kendal-based Poco Amabile Choir, for youngsters aged seven to 12.
The choir was set up in 2000 to train singers for the senior Amabile choir.
Poco Amabile has been named Children’s Choir of the Day at the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year, were invited to participate in A National Choral Festival at the Royal Northern College of Music, and were chosen to take part in the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham.
Poco Amabile regularly compete in the Mary Wakefield Music Festival and have come first in their class on numerous occasions.
Just before lockdown, in March 2020, the choir took part in Barnardo’s Youth Choral Competition Finals at the prestigious Royal Festival Hall.
Choir director Stephanie McLean said: “We are all so excited to be premiering Us by Russell Hepplewhite for Britten Pears Arts’ Friday Afternoons.
“It is such an honour to have been selected and we have been enjoying learning the piece so much. We can’t wait to share our performance.”
The performance will be broadcast on Britten Pears Arts’ Youtube channel.
