A spectacular performance of Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” took place at Wellington School last week.
Almost 400 children from 15 schools around the region turned out for an afternoon of workshops and rehearsals, before performing to a thrilled audience of over 800!
“All the pupils had learned the songs in their schools with the help of their music teachers, and my colleagues and I have been into all the schools to work with them. When they finally came together on Friday, the sound was electrifiying – such an exciting moment,” commented Ros Shaw, from Wellington School, who masterminded the whole event.
“Each school had auditioned an Oliver and an Artful Dodger, so there was a tremendously exciting “X-Factor” style sing-off for each role, which was made even more tense as the judges couldn’t choose, so they ran a blind follow-up audition, like “The Voice”. The winners performed the roles in the concert that evening.”
Samuel Jones from Parkfield School was a cheeky Dodger, whilst Andrew Power from Wellesley Park brought a tear to many eyes with his soulful Oliver. The songs were complemented by vignette scenes performed by Wellington School pupils and an outstandingly sleazy performance of Fagin by Tom Harris from Year 10.
“It was tremendously exciting to have such an array of fantastic singers from so many schools coming along – there is some serious talent around and we feel privileged to have been able to showcase some of it last week. My thanks must go to all the primary music teachers who have worked to hard with their children to make this happen” concluded Ros Shaw.
The schools taking part were; Nether Stowey CEVC Primary School, Parkfield Primary School, Ruishton Primary School, Holy Trinity Primary School, The Castle Primary School, Cheddon Fitzpaine Church School, Curry Mallet VC Primary School, Kingston St Mary Primary School, North Town Primary School, Sampford Arundel Primary School, Stapelgrove Cof E Primary School, Thurbear CE VC Primary School, Wellesley Park Primary School, St Peter’s Prep School and Wellington Junior School.