On Tuesday morning last (7th March) seven schools gathered in Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork for a workshop and performance led by Peter Stobart, Director of Music.  All are schools which Peter has been visiting regularly as part of the Cathedral’s Music Outreach programme to lead choirs and teach singing and so this was an opportunity for each school to show what it could do.

Over 200 children, teachers and parents gathered for the Schools Singing Workshop at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork

Some schools were local; St Maries of the Isle and St Fin Barre’s National School simply had to walk across the road to be there.  However Togher Boys’ National School and St John the Baptist, Midleton had to come a little bit further.

The music was varied in style but enthusiastically performed. St Luke’s National School, Montenotte began the showcase with a beautiful two-part rendition of Panis Angelicus whilst Cork Educate Together National School ended with the more jazzy Goodnight Sweetheart.  St Michael’s National School, Blackrock even gave a dance routine in full costume to the song Superstar.

The Schools Singing Workshop with Director of Music, Peter Stobart at the piano

The highlight of the day however was when all of the schools joined together both for the traditional Spiritual Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen and Consider Yourself from the musical Oliver!  There were over 200 children taking part as well as some supporting parents who could not resist joining in either.  The effect was breathtaking and as good an advert as any for the promotion of singing in our schools.