School pupils from across the UK raised the roof of London’s Royal Albert Hall last month, thanks to choir and instrumental ensemble, Armonico Consort.
Over 2,000 children and young people came together for AC Academy Does the Royal Albert Hall on 26 March 2018. The gala concert featured 52 choirs formed through Armonico Consort’s education programme, AC Academy, which is now in its 10th year. All the participating choirs were formed through the Academy’s in-school Choir Creation scheme, after-school choirs and special educational needs (SEN) projects.
The concert included choral music and songs ranging from Handel’s Zadok the Priest to Pharrell Williams’ Happy. A highlight was The Trip, a piece created by children with moderate and profound learning difficulties as part of AC Academy’s work with children with SEN, which featured backing vocals from the choir and 3,500 audience members.
Christopher Monks, Artistic Director of Armonico Consort, said:
‘This year is the 10th anniversary of our Choir Creation scheme where we create choirs in schools and train teachers as choir leaders. It’s also a timely reminder that the incredible thing about singing – aside from building confidence, raising self-esteem and benefiting mental health – is that the skills to do it well can be taught on such a large scale and retained for years to come by the brilliant teachers who work with us. At the heart of what we do is simplicity which, through dedicated hard work, leads to such joy. AC Academy Does the Royal Albert Hall gave 2,000 children a chance to find their voice and express themselves through singing together, leaving an imprint on their hearts that will last forever.’
Header photo: AC Academy Does the Royal Albert Hall © Simon Jay Price
