As part of Kingston RPM, Creative Youth worked with project partner Kingston Music Service to commission composer, Pete Churchill, to write three new compositions inspired by Kingston’s musical heritage. These were then taught to 21 schools, in a series of workshops and performed at the Festival of Schools Choirs from the 19th – 22nd June 2017.
Over 1,200 students from local schools performed at the Rose Theatre during this time and the programme featured songs by influential artists like David Bowie, in addition to the new compositions.
The Festival of Schools Choirs is an annual event, delivered by Kingston Music Service and is a celebration of singing within the borough’s primary and secondary schools. It aims to give the pupils a high quality performance experience and the opportunity to sing with other young singers. The theme for the festival was Kingston’s Musical Heritage and schools performed pieces from a variety of local artists.
You can listen to one of the original compositions below. This track was recorded on 20th June 2017 and was performed by students from St Paul’s C of E Primary School, Kingston Hill, Lovelace Primary School, King Athelstan Primary School, St Matthew’s C of E Primary School, Ellingham Primary School, St John’s Primary School, St Andrew’s & St Mark’s Junior School, Latchmere School. Band: Mike Pratt (Bass), Krystal Tunnicliffe (Piano), Tino Rainone (Guitar), Leo Sutherland (Drums).