CHILD musicians are gearing up to deliver the biggest indoor staged First World War centenary Remembrance event.
More than 2,500 youngsters will add their musical talents to the Lest we Forget National Children’s Remembrance Concert at the Genting Arena, NEC Birmingham, in November.
The ground-breaking event will reflect today’s multicultural, multi-ethnic perspectives by seeking to remember and commemorate all who died or suffered in the conflict 100 years ago.
The music, songs and associated images have been carefully sequenced to tell the story of the war and to enhance empathy and remembrance for all who were affected. Music will include Mars, Nimrod, Cavatina, Silent Night, Hymn to the Fallen and popular songs from the trenches and home front.
The concert will have moments of joy and sadness, emotion and reflection, pathos and hope, and of remembrance and gratitude.
The focal point will be the children’s choir of more than 2,000 singers dressed to represent two giant poppies. They will be supported by an orchestra of 180 young musicians from the Birmingham Schools’ and Ealing Youth Orchestras, the National Youth Pipe and Drum Band (début), the Sandwell Youth Brass Band, the Birmingham Schools Guitar Ensemble, the Leicestershire Show Choir, the Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers plus Angelicus Celtis, performers from Norfolk, Bournemouth and Sutton Coldfield and a parade of 57 flags by Scouts and Guides from the West Midlands.
The concert will pay homage to the 40 million military and civilian deaths and casualties of all nations, including the 540,000 children killed, as well as the role and sacrifices of women and non-combatants. It will also pay tribute to the many millions of animals that were killed in the conflict, including nearly eight million horses and mules.
A giant LED screen will be used to project the ongoing concert together with images, information and statistics to inform the viewing audience.
The concert, which has been made possible with a grant of £90,000 from the Department for Communities and Local Government, followed by further grants from the Big Lottery and the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music, climaxes with a mass singing of Lest we Forget, a song written and co-composed by director Dr Ron Dawson.
Find out more and book your tickets by clicking here.