More than 300 children from south Leeds have spent a day at Ripon Cathedral, performing in front of a large and appreciative audience as part of a new and unique collaboration between the Cathedral and Opera North.
Pictured right in the lunchtime concert are singers, aged 7 to 11 years, from Windmill Primary School and Low Road Primary School, south Leeds, who are part of Opera North’s “In Harmony” educational project– the first of its kind in Yorkshire. The community residency was launched three years ago and aims to transform aspirations and learning outcomes of 650 children at the two schools in the Belle Isle area of Leeds.
Opera North musicians, actors and singers took part in the first of the two concerts. (Left, soprano, Bryony Williams - right, conductor, Stuart Overington) Each week they are involved in giving weekly 
instrumental tuition, singing and playing in orchestras together with running regular theatre workshops. More than 90% of the children involved come from disadvantaged areas or families, and were selected through consultation with the Local Education Authority.
Pictured left introducing the concert is John Ward, the Chairman of the Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust. The trust which has a long history of support for music at Ripon Cathedral is also a sponsor of the Opera North In Harmony project and was instrumental in bringing the 300 children to Ripon Cathedral.
The lunchtime concert featured an eclectic range of music inspired by William Shakespeare from Benjamin Britten and Vaughan Williams to a rousing version of Cole Porter’s ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’.
In the evening, it was the turn of Opera North Children’s Chorus who performed performing with the Cathedral’s boy and girl choristers. Open to all children aged between 8-14 years, the Chorus performs both locally and nationally throughout the year. Together, the children performed a concert of sacred choral music including Fauré’s Pie Jesu and Tantum Ergo, Franck’s Panis Angelicus and Britten’s Missa Brevis.
Jacqui Cameron, Opera North Education Director, said:
“The groups we work with really value being given the opportunity to perform outside of their local community and all the children are particularly thrilled to be singing in such an amazing building as Ripon Cathedral. We always find that their confidence and self-belief soars when they see the response of new audiences, and they enjoy having the chance to mix with other choirs.
“One of our key aims at Opera North is to ensure that as many young people as possible have access to the pleasure music and singing can bring. That’s why we remain committed to such projects as In Harmony Opera North and the Opera North Children’s Chorus and why we’re delighted to be joining forces with the young Ripon Cathedral choristers for this event.”
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