Last updated at 17:43, Sunday, 23 November 2008

A CLASS of village school pupils impressed adjudicators and the crowds at the world’s largest youth music festival.

Words Natalie C (LEARNING). RAZZMATAZZ: Pupils of Penny Bridge Primary School take part in the National Festival of Music for Youth at Birmingham on July 7, with their Waltz España dance. Left to right are Aislinn Stanway, Alexis Kirby, Collette Fellows and Demi Michaud

A CLASS of village school pupils impressed adjudicators and the crowds at the world’s largest youth music festival.

Children from Penny Bridge CE School, Greenodd, performed at the National Festival of Music for Youth in July.

Eighteen pupils from Class Four took to the stage of the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham with Waltz España.

The percussion piece was adapted by Jane Thedham, a Penny Bridge teacher and the school’s music coordinator, to demonstrate the capabilities and versatility of the group aged nine to 11 years.

Penny Bridge’s exciting and vibrant Waltz Espana included a vocal solo, recorder accompaniment, tambourines, wood blocks, triangles cymbals and costumed Spanish dance.

The adjudicators praised the group's performance that was part of the six-day celebration, involving 10,000 young musicians and singers from across the UK.

Mrs Thedham said: "I'm very proud of the children. A lot of them are leaving school at the end of term and they have made such a wonderful contribution to the musical life of the school.

"It was a really good day and it's something they will remember. The children performed really well and they really enjoyed it."

The pupils were invited to perform at the national festival after wowing festival judges in March with their superb example of class music making.

Following the festival the pupils performed Waltz España for the community during a concert at Greenodd Village Hall along with other musicians from Penny Bridge.

Music thrives at Penny Bridge. with more than a quarter of the pupils having school instrument tuition and even more are involved with the active school choir and orchestra.

The national festival was a six day celebration with performances by 10,000 young musicians and singers from across the UK. The pupils were invited to perform at the national festival after wowing festival judges in March with their superb example of class music making.The class had never competed before so it is very special for all involved to compete at the prestigious festival.Following the festival the pupils performed Waltz Espana for the community.The dance display was part of a Greenodd Village Hall along with other musicians from Penny Bridge.Music thrives at Penny Bridge with more than a quarter of the pupils having school instrument tuition and even more are involved with the active school choir and orchestra.

First published at 12:02, Thursday, 17 July 2008
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk