Valley musicians at their best

Reporter: Catherine Smyth
Date online: 09 July 2010

SCHOOL musicians and singers in the Valley came together for a stunning celebration of music. Haslingden High School’s Sixth Form Theatre was the venue for the two-night event when hundreds of schoolchildren took to the stage. 

Governor Geoff Atkinson explained: “This is a non competitive celebration of the musical and singing talent we have in Rossendale. “We began the Rossendale Schools’ Music Festival in 1993/4 when I was Mayor and my wife Dorothy was Mayoress because there was so much talent we thought it was a good idea to let everyone come together to celebrate it. “The festival was originally held in Haslingden Public Hall but when that closed I approached the head at the high school and she very kindly agreed to provide a venue.” 

Nine primary schools from Bacup to Crawshawbooth, Haslingden to Water were involved along with Haslingden High and Tor View School. Drama teacher Liz Anthony said: “I think it is a fantastic way to celebrate the young musicians and singers.”
The festival was held on Tuesday and Thursday 6 and 8 July with different schools performing each night in front of parents, friends and the Mayor of Rossendale Councillor Trevor Unsworth. 

Besides choirs, there was also handbell ringing by pupils from St James’ C of E School, Haslingden, Haslingden High School’s saxophone group and swing band and guitar and brass and percussion players from St Saviour’s Community Primary School.
At the end of each session all the pupils joined for a grand finale with Haslingden High’s saxophone group to sing and play Coldplay’s Viva La Vida