Southwater pupils celebrate council’s 125th anniversary

Alongside children from four other schools from across the County – Camelsdale, Jolesfield, St Andrew’s CE Primary, Crawley and Yapton CE Primary School, and Southwater Junior Academy - children formed part of a massed ‘Sing Up’ Choir.

These schools were invited to take part in the celebrations due to having been recognised nationally by the ‘Sing Up Award Scheme’ for outstanding achievement in singing and musical challenges.

The children were taught the three songs by their music teachers at school.

They worked hard to learn melody lines, harmony parts and all the lyrics off by heart. The children performed with confidence and skill.

Under the direction of Emily Barden, Leader of Singing and Choirs in West Sussex, the children sang the following songs (two of which were composed by Emily Barden): ‘Remember’, ‘Only Remembered’ and ‘People at the Heart – a Song for Sussex’.

The West Sussex County Youth Chamber Ensemble and the West Sussex County Youth Choir also performed at this celebration service.

The concert took place in Chichester Cathedral and was attended by councillors from West Sussex County Council, West Sussex Music and pupils and parents from the above schools. The Cathedral was packed, and the audience very supportive of all performers.

A rousing rendition of ‘People at the Heart’ was sung by all in the Cathedral to conclude the service.

Mrs Kear (Advanced Skills Teacher for Primary Music) at Southwater Junior Academy would like to thank the children for all their hard work, parents for supporting their children in this event and staff at Southwater, who, all together, enabled our fantastic Year 5 children to take part in this celebration.

Report and picture contributed by Southwater Junior Academy.