600 Primary singers get Groovy at
Schools Prom 2007

London, UK, 19th November – Over 600 primary school children from across Oxfordshire sang a brand new composition written by Richard Stilgoe in support of WaterAid at this year's Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. The Oxfordshire Massed choir was supported by Groovy Music from Sibelius – the fun and easy software for teaching primary music – and all the children sported bright green Groovy Music T-shirts.

Richard Stilgoe’s piece, Five Thousand Children, features songs that describe some of the problems of the developing world, and the work WaterAid does to provide safe, clean water near people’s homes. The songs reflect some of the places where WaterAid works, such as East Africa, South Africa, India, and the Pacific Islands

“We love the Schools Prom and have been an avid supporter for many years” says Jeremy Silver, Managing Director of Sibelius Software. “It was great to hear the children sing this fantastic new composition so beautifully, and it was a fabulous sight to see this sea of green stretching right around the hall!”

Singing in Oxfordshire’s primary schools is thriving and partnerships of schools regularly get together with their Music Service animateur to take part in workshops and concerts.  240 primary schools were invited to take part in the massed choirs and, as a result of the overwhelming response, their numbers had to be limited.  Schools were joined by members of the four Young Singers groups and accompanied by students from Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra and Sur-Taal and Kalimba player Kudaushe Matimba, who stepped up to perform this Kalimba part at one week's notice.