Schools Singing Programme completes Northern Ireland pilot

Tackling declining engagement with music in state schools across the UK, the Schools Singing Programme has completed a pilot programme in Northern Ireland. 

Funded by UK charity, the Hamish Ogston Foundation, the Northern Ireland branch of the project united 600 children from the selected schools in the Archdiocese of Armagh and the Diocese of Dromore to celebrate their participation in the eight-week singing pilot. 

The scheme saw the children benefiting from free weekly, professional singing tuition schemes. Following the completion of the pilot, the charity's intention is to maintain and grow this provision further. 

The larger Schools Singing Programme engages over 20,000 children in over 200 state schools across the UK as part of an ambitious music education initiative. 

Ben Saunders, Consultant for the NSSP made an address at the pilot's finale event, saying: ‘Please believe me now when I say that the Schools Singing Celebration in St Patrick’s Cathedral was simply wonderful, inspiring, joyful, substantial and spectacular. 

'What you have achieved in a couple of months is quite remarkable and the high level of ambition shown for the children in your primary schools is exactly where it should be. I was genuinely moved by the music, the hundreds of young voices and the skill with which Archbishop Eamon weaved everything together into something that was at times quite transcendent’. 

Simon Toyne, Music Project Director for the Hamish Ogston Foundation and former President of the Music Teachers Association commented: 'Everyone has a voice, and great voices exist everywhere.’

‘The power of the NSSP lies in enabling these voices to be nurtured through singing together, connecting them through singing in class, singing in school choirs, and massed choral singing in cathedrals, in turn enabling cathedral choirs to draw their choristers from a far deeper pool of singers than at present. We are thrilled that the launch of the NSSP in Northern Ireland has been such a success and look forward to seeing (and hearing) it grow.'

To listen to the performances from the celebration at St Patrick’s Cathedral, visit: www.armaghprays.com/sing-a-new-song-1