Oliver Walker conducts boys and girls from four schools across Solihull in the inaugural Solihull Sings! concert held at Solihull School
Solihull School is hitting all the right notes for encouraging young people to sing together by hosting its second concert for schools throughout Solihull.
Up to 200 pupils from four borough primary schools will be taking part in Solihull Sings! at the independent co-educational school for 7-18-year-olds on Wednesday, March 28.
The 9-10 year olds from Chapel Fields Junior School, Greswolde Primary School and Kineton Green Primary School have been coached for ten weeks in songs ranging from African chants to English rock anthems by Solihull School Choirmaster Oliver Walker.
The boys and girls will be joined by pupils from Solihull Junior School, Solihull School Boys’ Choir and saxophone group ‘Saxophony’ in the School’s Bushell Hall.
Oliver Walker, a former Wells Cathedral organist who managed the cathedral’s chorister outreach programme, introduced Solihull Sings! last year with two other schools to improve confidence and musical awareness and help build a richer choral community.
Sara Wilkes, Deputy Head of Chapel Fields Junior School, who was among a packed audience of parents, teachers and fellow pupils and friends at the inaugural concert in December, said she found the event “very entertaining, uplifting and incredibly moving.”
She added: “Solihull Sings! has been a fantastic opportunity for the children, who have thoroughly enjoyed learning a variety of songs from different eras and cultures. The children’s confidence has grown immensely and their singing ability has improved in leaps and bounds under Oliver’s inspirational teaching and guidance.”
Solihull School’s choristers have also been engaged in reaching out to a wider audience by making a CD recording of Christmas music. Ninety members of the Chamber Choir, Boys’ Choir and Girls’ Choir worked with Regent Records to record ‘Midwinter – Music for Advent and Christmas from Solihull School Chapel’ over three evenings last month.
The CD will contain popular modern and traditional music from the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, which occupies a central place in the life of the chapel. It will also feature two pieces arranged by previous chapel organist Peter Irving, the world premiere recording of ‘The Virgin’s Lullaby’ by Solihull School music teacher Simon Phillips, and three organ pieces played on the chapel’s newly restored Nicholson’s organ.
Oliver Walker, Solihull School Organist and Choirmaster, said: “The CD will set a new landmark in the history of choral music in Solihull School Chapel and provide a fitting tribute to the unceasing hard work and dedication of our talented choristers.”