SINGING IS GOOD FOR YOUR ELF!

School children form nationwide virtual Christmas choir

Children’s choirs from primary schools across the UK have been brought together by a nationwide music charity to bring some badly needed festive cheer to a country facing its first Christmas under the shadow of the Pandemic.

Water City Music says more than 1000 youngsters rehearsed in their school bubbles in preparation for a one-off presentation of the ever-popular Walking in a Winter Wonderland.

Each choir’s performance was videoed and sent to Water City’s editing elves who  have woven their magic to combine each school’s individual efforts into a giant virtual choir.  The finished festive film will be launched – on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdOXjmmIRw5yINCBnGFR5w?guided_help_flow=5) – at midday on Friday (December 11^th.)

The charity has run a children’s music festival at the Tower of London since 2013, involving nearly 2000 pupils each summer. Because of this year’s Pandemic, they invited the youngsters who were going to sing at the Tower to form a virtual choir and produced their first Online event in July.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct8RMos3rYk

Artistic Director, Michael Bochmann, MBE – a virtuoso violinist – says the success of the summer video encouraged them to go Online at Christmas for the first time.

“We are a small charity and our only aim is to instil a love of music in young people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. We think it is an enormous cause for good.”

He added: “We only started seven years ago and from small beginnings in the West Country and London, we are now ambitious to become a truly nationwide charity.  Of course, we were disappointed when COVID19 led to the cancellation of our flagship event at the Tower, but the fact that we had to turn schools away from appearing in the Online video made us realise we had struck a positive chord.”

“What we are calling our Children in Wonderland event is already a great success judging by the huge number of schools taking part, and we hope in 2021 we can have a live event not only at the Tower but also at another inspiring venue next Christmas.”

PRESS NOTES: The Children in Wonderland video is available to media outlets. A number of schools have also agreed that their pupils can be interviewed and filmed in order to tell the story of the event. Michael Bochmann is available too.

Media enquiries should be made to Robert Cole on 07768 464864 or crobcole@btinternet.com

Water City Music inspires young musicians to perform at striking venues across the UK.

Led by artistic director Michael Bochmann MBE, we bring together musicians across the whole spectrum of abilities and experiences to enjoy playing together, and learning from one another.

Every Summer since 2013, children from across London have performed at the Water City Music Tower of London Festival, supported by professional players, music students and music teachers. Growing from strength to strength each year, 2019 saw 1800 children from 22 London Boroughs came together in music groups of all varieties and ensemble choirs.

The year-round series of Oasis concerts, principally at St George The Martyr in Southwark, help children to prepare for the Tower festival.

Building on the success of our London programme we are now expanding into other parts of the uk, with our first event in Gloucester at the Tall Ships and Adventure Festival in 2019.

Music is like water; it is everywhere and can flow almost anywhere. And just a small drop can allow unexpected things to grow.

When people make music together it can transform them collectively and as individuals in every area of their lives. Everyone, whether child or adult, student, amateur or professional learns from one another, in mutually beneficial musical relationships.