More than 2,200 key stage 1 pupils (aged 5, 6 and 7 years), from 50 Hampshire schools recently lent their voices to an interplanetary musical adventure – ‘Barnaby Bear Goes into Space’.
Organised by Hampshire County Council’s Music Service, the audience of children sang songs they had rehearsed since the start of the autumn term in support of the main stage performance.
Councillor Keith Mans, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services, said: “We are very proud of our music service and this annual singing event is a great example of the opportunities that the Service opens up to children and young people of all ages to get involved in music. Music plays an important role in a well-rounded education and it is a wonderful way to bring people together.”
Telling the story on stage, with Barnaby the Bear himself, were a Music Service staff band, two of Hampshire County Youth Choir’s finest singers, Nina Smith and Hari Bravery, as well as a massed choir of key stage 2 pupils (7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 year olds) from All Saints Church Of England (Aided) Junior and Berrywood Primary schools. Special effects, a rocket and dancing added to the excitement of the production which took place at The Anvil in Basingstoke on 5 and 6 March 2018.
The participating schools were:
Amport CofE Primary School, Andover
Bentley Primary School, Farnham
Burghclere Primary School, Newbury
Burnham Copse Primary School, Tadley
Buryfields Infant School, Hook
Castle Hill Infant School, Basingstoke
Chalk Ridge School, Basingstoke
Charles Kingsley’s Primary School, Hook
Cherbourg Primary School, Eastleigh
Cheriton Primary School, Alresford
Clatford CE Primary School, Andover
Compton All Saints C of E Primary School, Winchester
Cove Infant School, Farnborough
Daneshill School, Hook
Endeavour Primary School, Andover
Farnborough Grange Infant School, Farnborough
Four Lanes Infant School, Basingstoke
Froxfield CofE Primary School, Petersfield
Grateley Primary School, Andover
Hatch Warren Infant School, Basingstoke
Heatherside Infant School, Fleet
Kimpton, Thruxton & Fyfield CofE Primary School, Andover
King’s Somborne CE Primary School, Stockbridge
Kingsclere CE Primary School, Newbury
Knightwood Primary School, Eastleigh
Longparish Primary School, Andover
Oakridge Infant School, Basingstoke
Parsonage Farm Nursery and Infant School, Farnborough
Pinewood Infant School, Farnborough
Ropley Primary School, Alresford
Rowledge Primary School, Farnham
Scantabout Primary School, Eastleigh
Selborne CE Primary School, Alton
Sherborne St John CE Primary School, Basingstoke
Silchester C of E Primary School, Silchester
Smannell & Enham CE (Aided) Primary School, Andover
South View Infant and Nursery School, Basingstoke
South Wonston Primary School, Winchester
St Mary Bourne Primary School, Andover
St Matthew’s CE Primary School, Liss
St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Farnborough
St. Bede’s Catholic Primary School, Basingstoke
St. Mary’s Bentworth CE Primary School, Alton
St.Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Basingstoke
Stockbridge Primary and Pre-School, Stockbridge
Wellstead Primary School, Hedge End
West Meon CofE Primary School, Petersfield
Wherwell Primary School, Andover
Wootey Infant School, Alton
On stage performers and singers for the musical:
Hampshire County Youth Choristers Hari Bravery and Nina Smith from The Westgate School, Winchester.
On stage massed choir (in orange):
All Saints Church Of England (Aided) Junior School, Fleet
Berrywood Primary School, Hedge End