Year 5 raise the roof at The O2
5th February 25
Lower School students channelled their inner rock stars in January as they performed at London’s O2 Arena.
Year 5 sang, danced and shook pom-poms to songs by Bob Marley to Benson Boone as part of the annual Young Voices concert series.
Billed as ‘the world’s largest children’s choir’, the event saw KAS students singing with some 9,000 other school children, supported by professional musicians and a spectacular light show.
“It was really special,” said Hunter (5N), one of the children to take part. “It’s not every day that you get the chance to sing in a massive arena where acts like Elton John have performed!”
He added: “I was a little nervous, but also excited and really happy.”
Songs on the setlist included Firework by Katy Perry, Let’s Dance by Bowie, and a Bob Marley medley to mark his 80th birthday. The children had been rehearsing the songs since the start of the school year in September.
“The children were wonderfully enthusiastic,” said Lower School Music Coordinator Camilla Ovenden. “There was so much energy in the room; it was really powerful.”
“Singing with people from across the UK was lots of fun,” agreed Ida (5R). “Seeing our teachers singing and dancing was funny, too!” added her classmate, Dylan.
In addition to being lots of fun, Young Voices aims to ignite a love for music, empower children to discover their voices and build their confidence.
“It’s just the most amazing experience,” says guitarist Tom Billington, who has performed with the Young Voices band for over 10 years. “We come back time after time because of the energy of the kids.
“It’s all about trying to break down barriers so people can express themselves through music.”
The musician was speaking on the BBC’s The One Show, which profiled the event on Monday night. You can watch the item – which gives a sense of the sheer scale and joyful nature of the concert – below.
View this post on Instagram
