Primary school children from Cherry Trees School and Risby Primary School will be perfecting their pitch next week as they are joined by members of South African jazz band Mbawula to rehearse their opening night performance at the renowned Bury St Edmunds Festival.
The pupils have been learning songs in several African languages in preparation for the celebrations, which last year saw 200 school children work alongside adults to form the Bury St Edmunds Festival Township Choir. The group, together with Mbawula, proved so popular on the festival’s opening night that the celebration will be repeated this year.
Youngsters from primary, middle and upper schools in the Bury area have now been perfecting their voices for two weeks during fun-filled and energetic rehearsals led by Mbawula’s Musical Director Paul Bartholomew (who has formerly worked as a saxophonist for Jools Holland) and Veronica Cowper, a singer from South Africa. The pupils are learning South African Township songs in a variety of languages including Xhosa, Sotho and Zulu, and many have no previous experience of choral singing.
The pupils will be joined by Cllr Paul Farmer, St Edmundsbury Portfolio Holder for Arts and Culture and a former music teacher. He said:
“Last year’s fantastic opening night celebrations saw hundreds of people pack an enormous stage on the Angel Hill to delight the crowds with their toe-tapping treats. We hope this year’s launch will be equally successful and will prove to be a fitting start to another superb festival. I’m looking forward to taking part in the rehearsal too.”
The township choir is supported by St Edmundsbury, Youth Music, Havebury Housing Partnership, Bury Town Council and Mid Suffolk District Council. Funding from these organisations has also been secured for a year-long community choir project, which has made it possible to arrange the rehearsal workshops. The money will also be used to support a smaller ‘legacy choir’ of school children who will continue learning African songs at weekly rehearsals throughout the year before performing at the 2008 festival.
This year’s performance will be one of the highlights of the festival’s free opening night celebrations and will take place on 11 May at 7pm on Angel Hill following the traditional Beating Retreat ceremony.
For a festival brochure, call the festival hotline on 01284 757099. Book tickets at the Festival Box Office, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds on 01284 769505.
The festival is managed by St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
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ISSUED BY LIZ HEARNSHAW, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. liz.hearnshaw@stedsbc.gov.uk
