York Minster

Minster School Choral Outreach Concert

Published Thursday 13th March 2008 by Alix Peacock

The Minster School and its choristers have been taking part in a choral partnership project with primary school pupils from Clifton Green (York) and Settrington (nr. Malton).

Each week, musicians have visited the primary schools to work with groups of children and their teachers. The project is part of a national initiative involving choir schools that has been running for nearly a decade now. The government has built on this work which has now become part of the national Sing Up strategy led by composer Howard Goodall. The work attempts to increase children’s opportunities to sing and to safeguard Britain’s unique choral traditions.

On Friday 14th March, this term’s project culminates in a concert in York Minster, where the young singers have an opportunity to perform before an audience of proud parents and members of the public. The Choir of St. Lawrence’s School, who participated in last term’s project, will join the other schools as they try to raise the roof of York Minster.

Alex Donaldson, Headmaster of the Minster School, said, “All children can sing. We just need to give them the opportunity - that’s what this project is all about. It’s particularly good to welcome back the choir of St. Lawrence’s school. It shows that the work goes on even after our musicians have left. We hope that things will continue to snowball – I look forward to welcoming every primary school in York, eventually.”