A Teesside education trust has brought communities together to sing their hearts out with some top London musicians, through a new community choir project - culminating in an exciting show at The Globe, Stockton next week.
Atomix Educational Trust, which runs Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough and Stockton Sixth Form college as well as Errington Primary School in Marske invited Primary Schools across Teesside to join them for ‘With Our Faces to the Sky’ – a new community choir project.
The schools have been actively rehearsing with music students from Prior Pursglove College for more than six months, ahead of a big performance at Stockton Globe on the evening of Thursday May 21st.
The community choir project is the brainchild of Noel Dennis, director of community and partnerships at Atomix, who is following in the footsteps of his late father Kel Dennis, a music teacher and music co-ordinator, by encouraging musicians to come together.
The musicians involved include Pete Churchill, a professor of jazz studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and his daughter Imogen Churchill, a jazz singer songwriter.
Noel, who is also an accomplished jazz musician, said: “One of the things I really want to bring to the Trust is music – and the choir project is a way of bringing music to our local communities.
“In this way, I can carry on some of the work that my Dad did in the Eston area, where he put a samba band in every school – something which culminated in a performance at the Riverside Stadium.
“The idea with the singing project was to bring a number of schools together and teach them some songs alongside a band from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and music students from Prior Pursglove College.”
Noel adds everyone is “very much looking forward to” the event next week.
His aim for the project was to empower primary school music teachers in the area and show them what is possible when the community comes together.
Noel’s daughter Eliza will be adding her voice to the event, making it a real family affair and reinforcing the connection of the event to her late grandad.
Noel said: “Although the event is connected to my late father’s previous work and will involve me playing the trumpet and Eliza singing a solo, I like to think that we are widening the concept of family to include the whole community – making it bigger and more inclusive.
“This sense of community is something which is hugely important to Atomix, and the idea of bringing people together through music is something which excites us – our own CEO Nichole is a singer, and we have many musicians across the Trust.
“All of our settings are anchor institutions within their communities – and this project has seen the children really grow in confidence, not just in their approach to the show, but in their performance in the classroom too.”
Describing the voice as “the musical instrument everybody has” Pete added students learn tolerance and empathy when they come together to sing, as well as vital employability skills.
“There’s more of a need now, given where we are in the world, for music to be used as a healing force, breaking down barriers,” Pete said.
“You can see kids come alive when they are involved in projects like this.
“I remember I was floundering at Primary School when the Royal Academy of Music came to visit – and I discovered music was a language I understood.
“I strongly believe kids should have opportunities like this – it empowers them and makes them realise it’s okay to think differently from the system you are in.”
Pete started working with schools across Teesside 20 years ago with Kel, who sadly died at the age of 59 after a battle with cancer.
Kel was head of music services and music co-ordinator for Eston Education Action Zone when he began working with Pete, who has been a long-time friend of the Dennis family of musicians.
Pete said: “Noel’s brother Adam was a student of mine at the Guildhall and asked me to come up to Teesside and that’s how the first of three projects three consecutive years in a row came about with him and his Dad, Kel.
“When Noel had the idea to bring it back and kickstart singing in the area, I was happy to help.”
Imogen, who is known as Immy, described the project as “super exciting”.
“It’s great to see the progress the children have made when rehearsing together and how it has given them a confidence boost which goes beyond just singing,” she said.
“Since November, we have been working with the students to create an incredible sound – and I can’t wait to hear how it plays out on stage at The Globe next week.”
Frida Payne Chadwick, aged 10, of St John the Baptiste Primary School in Stockton, said: “Before this, I was already singing because I love to sing! It’s so cool to be in a choir with such great teachers as well. I reckon the show is going to be great – I might be a bit nervous, but nerves are good.”
Mia Dowson, aged nine, of Kader Academy in Acklam, added: “I just love singing – it’s one of my favourite things! Bringing everyone together and getting the songs out there has been a beautiful thing.”
Dr Nichole Munro, CEO of Atomix Educational Trust, said: “As a Trust, it’s our ambition to be at the heart of every community we serve – and what better way is there to engage local people than bringing them together to make music?
“The feedback we have received about this choir project has been phenomenal – we are truly empowering young people and their teachers, making them aware of the benefits of bringing music into the curriculum and demonstrating what is possible in this field.
“The benefits to the young people also go far beyond singing and playing an instrument, as they learn self-confidence, teamwork and many other soft skills linked to employability.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing where we as a trust can take this project, alongside the esteemed musicians we are grateful to have involved, and I can’t wait to witness the young people involved in their element at the forthcoming performance at Stockton Globe.”
