A THOUSAND people filled Chester Cathedral last Wednesday evening for a spectacle of music, dance and drama.
Youngsters from Blacon Education Village, Homegrown Dance Theatre and the Chester choir A Handbag of Harmonies performed an exciting collaboration, entitled Carpe Diem, to a packed audience of dignitaries and supportive families.
The opening number saw gifted and talented performing arts pupils from Dee Point Primary School join forces with A Handbag of Harmonies. The children’s medley, arranged by Matt Baker, segued smoothly into an anthem which has been commissioned by the charity Oxfam for its climate-changing garden at this year’s Royal Horticultural Society Tatton Show.
Pupils from Dee Point, Highfield, The Arches, St Theresa’s and JH Godwin primary schools and Blacon High School then presented their own version of The Creation by Matt Baker engaging the audience in a journey through the creation of a beautiful world damaged by humans and then re built for the future. The piece was choreographed by Elisha Baxter with design by Wyn Roberts.
The second half was a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria, presented by Homegrown Dance Company, directed by Julia Williams.
She said: “The feedback from children, teachers and parents who were involved in the project has been wonderful, with some describing it as the best thing they have ever done. A standing ovation at the end of the production said it all.”
Acting headteacher of Dee Point Primary Sharon Wyatt added: “Our children were absolutely inspired by the whole experience. Some were even reduced to tears by the overwhelming emotion of the event.”
