SIX hundred children from 40 schools across Cornwall have come together in recent weeks to create a massed choir.

This was especially for the Cornwall Music Education Hub’s series of five Songfest concerts in four different venues — Hall for Cornwall, Princess Pavilions, Chapel Street Methodist Church and Launceston Town Hall.

The programme was organised by the Cornwall Music Education Hub to raise awareness of the range of young vocal talent and to encourage young people to get involved in singing.

The project was organised by the Cornwall Music Education Hub’s vocal strategy lead Angela Renshaw.

Over the last couple of months, children in these schools have all been learning the same piece of music called ‘Ocean Commotion’, a children’s musical about life in the sea with a colourful cast of characters.

Each evening has ended with a rousing rendition of the Disney favourite, Under the Sea.

Cornwall Music Education Hub vocal leaders, Angela Renshaw and Patrick Bailey, have been working with the children and their teachers to learn this music in preparation for these massed performances.

The choir was accompanied by a four-piece band made up of professional musicians who also teach for the Cornwall Music Service Trust.

The first act at each of these concerts featured performances by students from local secondary schools, colleges and universities, as well as the Hub’s own County Choirs.

The Songfest concert took place at Launceston Town Hall on Tuesday, March 15, and Wednesday, March 16.

Act 1 on the Tuesday was Budehaven Choir, plus soloists from the school, and act 2 was Songfest massed choir, made up of singers from Bude Junior, Harrowbarrow, Pensilva, St Dominic, St Mellion and Sir Robert Gefferys schools.

Tuesday night was compered by Naomi Kennedy from Radio Cornwall.

Act 1 on the Wednesday were groups and soloists from Launceston and Torpoint Community Colleges. Act 2 was Songfest massed choir made up of singers from Camelford, Coads Green, Marhamchurch, St Cleer, St Stephen’s and Saltash schools, and St Petroc’s Prep School, Bude. Wednesday night was compered by Shelley Jeffery.

Tanya Moore, manager of the Cornwall Music Education Hub, said: “This is the first time that we have held a series of concerts in different venues which presented a number of logistical challenges but the professionalism of the stage management, lighting and sound crew, as well as the help of each of the venues, meant that each night went very smoothly.

“Although the audiences were particularly impressed by the standard and variety of the vocal performances, they also appreciated how well each show was produced so a huge thank you to Chris Alexander and Impact Sound for their support but I would also like to thank the venues, schools and vocal leaders. We hope to repeat the event next year!”