After rehearsing hard since September, Brampton Abbotts School Choir recently travelled to the Genting Arena in Birmingham to take part in the world’s largest school choir gathering.

This is their fourth year of attending the spectacular event. They had to learn a variety of numbers and medleys including songs by Madness and Freddie Mercury, traditional Gospel numbers and songs specially written for the event.

After the children had rehearsed for three hours in the afternoon, they were joined in the evening by a 10,000 strong audience of families and friends, some of whom described the performance as amazing.

“You had to be there to understand how amazing it was,” said one grandparent, who travelled to Birmingham to watch her grandchildren perform.

A last minute addition of ‘Life on Mars’ was added as a tribute to David Bowie. It was rehearsed in ten minutes and sung wonderfully by vocal frontman Tom Billington, accompanied by the children. Headteacher Mr Brearey told the Gazette that it was perhaps the most moving part of the concert.

Other highlights were the amazing Beatbox Collective, the Urban Strides Street Dancers and the amazingly talented soprano Laura Wright, who has sung the national anthem at rugby matches. She was joined on stage by Mrs Herriott and 12 other teachers who were lucky enough to have been chosen to accompany Laura in the teachers’ choir.

Mr Brearey told the Ross Gazette: “The Brampton Abbotts Choir did their school and town proud. They were focused, tuneful and impeccably behaved for the whole day. Thanks go to all the Brampton Staff who have been part of our choir and accompanied the children to Birmingham. We are already looking forward to next year.”