A thousand children from Brighton and Hove sang to a packed house at the Brighton Centre this evening.
They were watched by close to a capacity crowd and joined by the Brighton Youth Orchestra – one of the oldest ensembles of its kind in the country.
The children sang Rockin’ Robin as their own tribute to Michael Jackson.
And while the repertoire consisted mostly of traditional carols and Christmas numbers, it also included a song written by Sophie Ward, of St John the Baptist RC Primary School.
Sophie was joined by fellow pupils Amelia Doxy, Megan Johnson-Rhodes, Amelia Goldsmith, Ciara O’Sullivan Hassell and Eve Salusbury and accompanied on guitar by teacher Jane Noble to perform her song One World.
The other 39 schools represented were:
Balfour Junior School, Benfield Junior School, Bevendean Primary School, Carden Primary School, Carlton Hill Primary School, Coldean Primary School, Cottesmore St Mary’s Primary School, Downs Junior School, Elm Grove Primary School, Fairlight Primary School, Goldstone Primary School, Hertford Junior School, Middle Street Primary School, Mile Oak Primary School, Moulsecoomb Primary School, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Patcham Junior School, Peter Gladwin Primary School, Queen’s Park Primary School, Rudyard Kipling Primary School, Saltdean Primary School, Somerhill Junior School, St Andrew’s CE Primary School, St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School, St Bernadette’s RC Primary School, St Luke’s Junior School, St Margaret’s CE Primary School, St Mark’s CE Primary School, St Martin’s CE Primary School, St Mary Magdalen RC Primary School, St Mary’s RC Primary School, St Nicolas’ CE Primary School, St Paul’s CE Primary School, Stanford Junior School, West Blatchington Junior School, West Hove Junior School, Westdene Primary School, Whitehawk Primary School, Woodingdean Primary School.
Peter Chivers, the head of music, arts and study support at Brighton and Hove City Council, was the principal conductor and compere.
The choir was accompanies by Liz Tunmer while Peter Walker, the council’s primary and special schools music curriculum consultant, also conducted the young singers. Andy Sherwood conducted the youth orchestra.
