Sing UK

Over a five year period, the Trust worked with Sing UK providing exceptional, high quality choral singing opportunities for hundreds of young people.

The projects resulted in outstanding public performances of major works from the choral repertoire in Worcester Cathedral. Teaching and learning took place in students' own schools, thus engaging those completely new to singing. The young participants enjoyed the rare opportunity of working alongside professional orchestras and artists. The legacy of this important work has been to inspire new generations of choral singers for the future.    

2014 saw an expansion of this project model when over 300 young singers from Worcestershire formed the major part of Sing UK’s international, 600-strong 'Centenary Chorus'. Together with young singers from Flanders, France and Germany they performed Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall to mark the centenary of the First World War. The performance received a standing ovation from the capacity, and largely London concert-going audience.

In association once more with Sing UK, the Trust supported the UK's first international, non-competitive festival for young singers in July 2013 – WIFYS (Worcester International Festival for Young Singers). 11 young choirs from 10 nations came to Worcester for a week-long event of workshops, street-singing and public concerts. Led by four renowned international choral directors, the Worcester International Festival for Young Singers also saw the commissioning of 'Five Days that Changed the World' from Bob Chilcott, which was conducted by the composer at the Festival's Gala Concert and which has since seen numerous performances throughout the world. Local young singers were able to participate fully in the week's activities at no cost to them, gaining extraordinary experiences of world music. The Festival brought about international innovation in the arts for the city of Worcester and most of the 13 concerts given were free to the public.

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