Simply The Best

‘That was the best night of my life!’ That was just one of many comments that are heard each year from children taking part in the Last Choir Singing competition

Since its launch in 2014, around 6,500 children have performed live on stage and Last Choir Singing has become established as the premier contest of its kind for North West junior schools. It is a fixture in the BBC Radio Lancashire calendar as they follow the choirs from the regional heats through to the grand final.

The event offers something for everyone. For children, it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase their skills before a large audience and develop new performance techniques. For teachers, it is a chance to achieve recognition. One said she felt validated as a choir leader for the first time in 15 years – another said it was the proudest moment of his career, and one school turned their winning cheque into a banner for their school gates because they had never won anything before.

Organised and sponsored by Euxton-based True Bearing Chartered Financial Planners and its co-sponsor Pennine Wealth Solutions, Last Choir Singing aims to raise awareness of music and to demonstrate that music education is thriving in Lancashire.

George Critchley, Chairman of True Bearing, said: “We started Last Choir Singing because we wanted to give something back to the community which we serve. It is so important that children have the opportunity to participate in the arts. The competition teaches them discipline and team work and they experience the enjoyment of singing. They are so excited when they perform – it is an experience they will remember forever.”

Its success is such that Last Choir Singing is now a year-round affair. The songwriting competition takes place in December, last year’s winner being Fylde accountant Simon Cox whose song, Golden Days, is now on sale on iTunes in aid of Brian House children’s hospice. There are also free ‘teach the teacher’ vocal sessions. Regional heats begin in March and the excitement continues to build until the finals which are held in June at King George’s Hall in Blackburn.

Applications are now being taken for the 2019 competition. Entry is free and is open to junior school choirs in Lancashire.

To enter, go to www.lastchoirsinging.co.uk/information or email anita.shaw@truebearing.co.uk.

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Tedd Walmsley

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