Festival One Two!                                                                           BYC Schools took first two places in the Primary School Choir of Year competition in the Robertshaw Festival of Music and Drama.  Under the direction of Ms. Fernly, St. Walburgas pipped runners-up St. Josephs, Bingley (last years winners) by one mark to take the Harry Haddock shield!  Click here for a report and pictures from the occasion.
 

St. Walburgas Concert  An audience of 400 people enjoyed seasonal offerings from six schools in the Bradford and Keighley areas at this 1st December concert at St. Walburgas Church in Shipley.  The variety of music in the program was illustrated in the first two items: the concert opened with the ancient advent hymn, 'O Come, O Come Emanuel' jumping a few centuries to 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord' from Godspell.  For the full program, click here

The concert marked the debut conducting performance of Mr. Christopher Johns at a BYC concert.  Chris has been working part time this term, and will take up his full time position as part of the BYC leadership team from January 2007. 

The concert was accompanied on the piano by Daniel Rathbone, Organ Scholar at Leeds Cathedral and a MA composition student at Huddersfield University.

The concert concluded with all 200 children singing a medley from Andrew Lloyd Webbers hit musical 'Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.'  Schools taking part were: St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs, St Josephs Bingley, St Walburgas (primary) and St. Josephs College, Holy Family Keighley, Yorkshire Martyrs (secondary.)

Robertshaw Festival Success
For the second successive year, the choir of St Joseph's Primary School Bingley has taken the Harry Haddock shield for best primary school in the Robertshaw Festival.  Performing to a packed audience in the United Reformed Church in Bingley, the choir sang 'Jubilate Deo' by Jacques Berthier and the 'Our Father' from David Fanshawe's 'African Sanctus.'

Boys Singing in Primary Schools                                                   Boys can’t sing? Boys don’t enjoy singing? Well, not boys in Bradford according to BYC director Chris McElroy! In the autumn term Mr. McElroy held workshops and performances in seven Bradford primary schools working with over 250 boys.

The verdict? ‘Boys in Bradford are very keen to sing, and do so with great energy and passion’ said Mr. McElroy, dispelling the myth that singing is only for girls! Schools visited included St Anthony’s Shipley, St Walburgas, St Winefrides, St Josephs Bradford, St Williams, St Mathews, St Francis. The boys sang in each school sang with great gusto, performing songs such as ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ (Spiritual) ‘Jubilate Deo’ (Taize) and ‘Oh When the Saints go Marching In’!

Choirs sing at Partnership Mass                                                     Each year, all those who work in Bradford Education meet to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving. This the year the Bradford Education Partnership Mass was held at the Church of the First Martyrs where Mgr Moger, the BYC chaplain is the parish priest. The music at the mass was provided by the BYC initiative, with the 90 strong choir made up of children from St Clare’s Fagley, St Joseph’s Keighley and the host school, St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs all directed by Caroline Robinson. Music at the mass included Howard Goodall’s setting of the 23rd Psalm, more popularly known as the theme tune to the TV series ‘The Vicar of Dibley.'

A Celebration in Many Tongues                                                     Each year in June, on the weekend of the Bradford Festival, the Catholic Community in Bradford gather for a Mass of Thanksgiving. Given the multi ethnic make up of the community, this Mass brings together elements of many different cultures and traditions. Flags of many nations are presented and the General Intercessions recited in over 10 languages! As is common with large gatherings of people from different language backgrounds, much of the music was sung in Latin, the universal language of the church. The 120 strong choir was made up of children from BYC schools: St Anthony’s, Shipley, St Cuthbert and First Martyrs, St Francis and Our Lady of Victories, Keighley.

Music sung included ‘Jublilate Deo’ (Taize) ‘Dona Nobis Pacem’ (Anon) ‘Messe du Jubilee’ (Lourdes) and a Gloria by former Leeds Diocesan Director of Music, Stuart Thompson.