While the biennial Tunbridge Wells Primary Schools Singing Festival has suffered cancellations like many events in the last two years due to Covid, the festival is to return for the 15th time at the Assembly Hall Theatre next Monday and Tuesday (June 20/21).
The event has been organised by Yvonne Smith, who is the Chair of Tunbridge Wells Network of Primary School Music Teachers and has been helped by an enthusiastic team of music co-ordinators/teachers from 17 schools in the Tunbridge Wells area.
This year they are being supported by groups of pupils form Bennett Memorial School and The Skinners’ School.
The evening performances, which begin at 7pm, will be conducted by the energetic and inspirational music teacher, Elisa Harrod, Head of Music at Rose Hill Preparatory School.
The children’s singing will be accompanied on the piano by Graham King whose playing enhances every song the children sing.
The songs were chosen by the teachers to inspire and challenge the children and this year’s theme for the festival is ‘Songs through the ages’, ranging the old classic hymn ‘Jerusalem’, to an uplifting anthem composed during lockdown, ‘We Won’t Stop Dreaming’, via World War 1 songs and an Abba medley.
All the children learn six songs to sing together and then some schools perform their own individual school entry.
This singing festival is the only non-sporting event which brings together so many local primary schools.
Each evening will see about 250 children on stage and will be watched by over 1,000 parents and friends over the two nights.
A Singing Festival Workshop for infant school children will held on the afternoon of the 21st June. In all, it is hoped, that over 1000 children will participate and enjoy singing together.
The whole event is supported by Kent Music, the Arts Council England and the Rotary Club of Tunbridge Wells and their Satellite Rotary Club of Southborough and Pembury.
