On 3 July, we staged our biggest Music Gala yet at the Barbican in London. More than 500 pupils from our 18 school network took part in the highlight of our year. Jubilant at their performance and the audience reaction, pupils as young as five showed few nerves as they performed pieces from Elgar to Rihanna to a packed auditorium. Highlights included an energetic horn section performance of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” by Isaac Newton and Walworth Academies, prompting a standing ovation. The night featured performances from every ARK academy, our network-wide ONE VOICE massed choir and SPARK choir and the SOUNDS ALIVE Fusion Ensemble.
Pupils sailed through the day, even those from our schools in Birmingham who arrived excitedly into London on the 7.30am train and didn’t reach home until beyond midnight. Their long days and months of practice were rewarded with applause and shouts of appreciation from the audience. One proud mother from King Solomon Academy whose young son performed said “I am so proud to see him and the school up there, performing so brilliantly and effortlessly. It is a real privilege for him to have an opportunity like this.”
A massed choir performance of “Read all about it” made famous by British rapper Professor Green and Emeli Sande closed out the night and had the audience on its feet again.
“This is something these pupils will remember forever. How many children can say they sang on a world-class stage before a packed audience? Amazing and a real delight to see,” commented one guest as the lights went up.
Thank you to all the pupils, teachers, parents, staff and supporters who came last night and helped to make our fifth Music Gala our best yet.
Thank you too to our sponsors of the event:
Fondazione Oliver Twist Citadel LNG Capital European Electronique Bouygues UK Skanska Interserve BAM Mace Foundation Local Dialogue First Colour Print Centres PS Financials