First Performance for Alleyn’s Music Academy Choir

The Alleyn’s Music Academy Choir had its first performance on Tuesday 7 February, and it is safe to say that it was a real success. Year 5 and 6 pupils from primary schools across the Dulwich community performed Blame it on the Boogie and Pure Imagination to parents and friends in the Lower School Atrium with heart and soul.

During the previous five weeks, pupils learnt basic singing techniques, along with some thrilling vocal warm-ups including Chicken-Tika-Mango-Chutney-And-a-Coca-Cola (!), Danger Men at Work and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The got to grips with breathing warm-ups such as blowing out the candles and snake hissing which the pupils found most entertaining! Each week the pupils build on what they have done before and so their singing gets stronger each week.

The enthusiasm has been palpable across the five weeks and there has been a real sense of community between the schools. The children have made friends with those at other schools who share the same passion for singing as they do and the atmosphere in the atrium has been heart-warming.

It has also been really encouraging to know that nearly all of the children from the first rotation were keen to come back after half term and some of them are involved in the sports academy too, so are at Alleyn’s enjoying the academies until gone 6pm! We have also been fortunate to have Alleyn’s volunteers from Year 8 and 9 helping and they have really enjoyed being part of the experience.

In time, the idea is that our Alleyn’s students will be able to lead some of the warm-ups and in time teach parts of the song, therefore, giving them an opportunity to lead a choir and maybe in the future an orchestra. Therefore, everyone is getting something out of the Alleyn’s Music Academy.

The choir’s next display will be on the 28 March, where they will perform the Dear Evan Hansen medley and When She Loved Me from Toy Story. Alleyn’s pupils might be accompanying the choir on their instruments, which would definitely bring another layer of excitement to the performance. All friends and family are welcome to this little recital and we look forward to expanding the Music Academy even further.

Article by Alleyn’s Head of Music Outreach, Miss Wynter