8:30am Wednesday 8th April 2009
By Ben Thompson
Praise has been heaped on a Merton music group for staging a sell-out concert at the Royal Albert Hall featuring more than 1,000 young people from across the borough.
The astonishing feat of the Merton Music Foundation brought together 1,450 pupils from 23 Merton primary schools to perform in front of 3,500 proud friends and relatives.
Professional musicians and even one or two actors joined in the event entitled Music is for Life, which took six months to prepare for.
Chief executive of the Merton Music Foundation, John Mander, said: “It was really high quality music making.
"We were astonished by the performances - it took six months of hard work to get to that standard and the Albert Hall has given us tremendous feedback.
“This has been a once in a life time opportunity which everyone taking part will always remember - it’s the chance to perform at the top concert venue in the country.”
The event is in its fifth year, but last week’s performance dwarfed anything the foundation had pulled off before.
And instead of taking the top musical talent in the borough, the event was designed to be inclusive with entire year groups from the different school taking part.
Mr Mander said: “It provides a tremendous opportunity for young people to work together at a high level and raise their own expectations of what they can achieve.
@Once you’ve played the Albert Hall, you can do anything.”
From drummers beating the rhythm of the samba to a powerful rendition of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, the audience was treated to a stunning array of different musical styles.
To find out more about the Merton Music Foundation see their website mmf.org.uk
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