Royston schools combine to make marvellous music

The organiser of an annual concert which brings together young musicians from across Royston has paid tribute to the performers who contributed to a memorable show.

Schools Make Music was presented for the 19th year by the Rotary Club of Royston as an opportunity to show what high levels of musical skill the town’s children are capable of, and to give them a unique opportunity to perform in front of a large audience.

Cambridge University’s West Road Concert Hall played host to representatives of 11 schools from Royston and its villages who performed a mixed programme of instrumental and choral music.

The concert featured several numbers in which schools joined forces.

In a first for the popular series, Greneway and Roysia middle schools combined to sing Can You Hear My Voice? and all 11 schools filled the stage to perform six pieces together.

The show included a premiere of Island, a song written specially for the school’s choir by Craig Maddox of Greneway’s music department.

Event organiser Brian Whittaker said: “Every school had to rehearse the music separately, and they were only able to rehearse together in the afternoon before the concert.

“It’s a real tribute to all the children and their teachers that we had such a polished performance.”

“We’re encouraging some real talent, and some of the young artistes who appeared may well be the professionals of the future.”