Bolsover School Choir Festival

Bolsover District Council, School Choir Festival 2008

Bolsover District Council recently staged their 7th Annual Primary School Choir Festival at the Kissingate Leisure Centre Shirebrook, Derbyshire.

The event attracted an entry of 21 schools from across Derbyshire with around 700 children participating including 2 Special Schools, Stubbin Wood Special School from Shirebrook and Ashgate Special School from Chesterfield. Each school performed 2 songs of their own choice and the day provided and excellent array of popular songs and commissioned songs for schools.

The children also enjoyed fresh fruit and smoothie drinks provided by TESCO’s at Clowne near Chesterfield as part of a campaign staged by Bolsover District Council, Health For Life and TESCO to promote healthy eating to youngsters. TESCO’s took a hand’s on approach to the day getting involved in the competition and the campaign talking and encouraging young children to try a variety of fresh produce and drinks all from TESCO’s local store. TESCO’s were so impressed with the event that they have pledged to become involved in next year’s festival.

There was also an exhibition provided by Bolsover District Council’s Community Safety Partnership which promoted road safety and stranger danger. Each child participating received free colouring books, crayons and a pencil case endorsing the scheme.

The Chairman of Bolsover District Council, Councillor Ken Walker presented the prizes at the conclusion of the event. The winners of the competion 2008 were the Crich Carr C of E Primary School Derbyshire who received a Gold Award,  the Bolsover District Choir Festival Trophy and £500 towards school funds. Runners Up were Creswell Junior School who received a Gold Award the Bolsover District Choir Festival Runners Up Shield and £250 towards school funds. Creswell Junior School also won the Chairman’s Trophy for the Best School based within the Bolsover District. Newbold C of E Primary School received a Gold Award and were “Highly Commended” by the Adjudicator.

The Adjudicator for the day Julie Thomas who is a trained opera singer and choral teacher for the Doncaster Music Services, was very impressed with the standard of performance for the day and said that she thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the performances and thanked all the teachers for all their hard work in the preparation of the festival performances.

Other Gold Award recipients were: Risley Lower Grammar School; Granby Junior School; Glebe Junior School and Birk Hill Infant School.
Silver Awards receipients were: Ashgate Special School, Chesterfield; Park Junior School, Shirebrook; Bramley Vale Primary School; Brookfield Primary School, Shirebrook; Swanwick Primary School; Morton Primary School; Dronfield Junior School and Creswell Infant School.
Bronze Award Recipients were:Horsley Woodhouse Primary School; Whitwell Primary School; Stubbinwood Special School; Grassmoor Primary School; Blackwell Primary School and Belper Long Row Primary School.