First For Hymers Choir As They Represent East Yorkshire At Llangollen Eisteddfod

An East Yorkshire school choir will share their talent with the world having qualified for the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in their first ever entry.

The Year 7 choir, from Hymers College, is the only group to have been selected from East Yorkshire and will compete in the Children’s Choir category on Tuesday, July 7. This is the first year that the independent Hull school has entered the competition.

Since 1947, the small Welsh village of Llangollen has staged the international festival, with more than 4,000 performers and some 50,000 visitors attending each year. The six day event is televised on its own website at Llangollen.tv

The group, conducted by Junior School Head of Music Tracey Redhead, have sung together for four years, and are no strangers to choral competitions. In this last year alone they have won prominent awards at the Barnardo’s National Choir Competition final at the Barbican in London, Choir of the Year competition held in Norwich, walking away with Choir of the Day, and most recently at the Mrs Sunderland Festival in Huddersfield.

During their successful trip to the Mrs Sunderland Festival they won against a choir who will also be taking part in their category at Llangollen this year.

Choir member Alisha Nayyar, from Beverley, is excited to take part in the competition:

“’It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to sing in an international competition. We’re all looking forward to travelling to North Wales and taking part.”

All choirs involved have to sing Every Voice as One, and a second contrasting number, for which Mrs Redhead has chosen River Song a Celtic Celebration.

Although the selected songs are difficult, Mrs Redhead has great faith in the ability of the choir. Having worked with the same group since Year 4, this is the first Year 7 choir that Mrs Redhead has taken on.

“The fantastic thing about our Year 7 choir is that they always rise to the occasion,” she said. “I chose River Song as it is lively and suits their voices well. It has been lovely hearing their voices progress over the years. The set song is challenging compared to others we have done, but they are a great bunch of children, and with a bit of hard work I am sure they will cope. They have always motivated themselves and done their best.”

Headmaster David Elstone said: “This is an extraordinary achievement for our young students. We are often blown away by their sheer talent at our various concerts throughout the year, and every time they perform you can hear the improvement to their voices.

“This is not the first time the college has made international impact, and it certainly will not be the last. We encourage all of our pupils to achieve their very best in academics, the arts and sport. In July, the whole world will hear the Year 7’s commitment to choir singing. I cannot express in words how proud Hymers College is of its students.”