Over 3,500 children, from 55 Hampshire schools, recently lent their voices to turn up the volume for ‘The Giant Sing’.
Organised by Hampshire County Council’s Music Service ‘The Giant Sing’ comprised four performances, over two days, of the musical adaption of Oscar Wilde’s short story ‘The Selfish Giant’, composed by Jan Stroud
Councillor Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Education, said: “We are very proud of our music service and ‘The Giant Sing’ is another great example of the opportunities that the service opens up to children and young people of all ages to get involved in music.
The young people who took part are following in the footsteps of those that have previously performed the musical to high acclaim, from thousands of children all over the world, in large theatres, small village halls, and even at The Royal Opera House. Music plays an important role in a well-rounded education and it is a wonderful way to bring people together.”
Choirs of children, age 7 – 14 years – from schools in Basingstoke, East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Hart, New Forest, Rushmoor, Test Valley and Winchester – sang the songs they had been rehearsing since the autumn term, backed by a live band. The magical story was further brought to life with a drama and dance performance by students from Kings’ School in Winchester, and narration by BBC Radio Solent presenter, Nick Girdler.
Hampshire’s ‘Giant Sing’ was held at The Anvil in Basingstoke and was one of many staged across the world to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the musical.
The Big Sing tells the story of a Giant who returns from a long holiday with his friend, the Cornish ogre, and was furious to find children playing in his garden. He selfishly decides to build a high wall to keep them out. Spring never returns and it is always winter in the garden, until one day when the children find a hole in the wall and as they play again the trees begin to blossom. Only one tree remains in its winter form and the giant see a tiny boy who isn’t tall enough to reach the branches. The Giant lifts him up into the tree and spring comes again.
The schools that took part in one of the four performances, held on 1 and 2 March, were as follows.
Tuesday 1 March
Kings’ School, in Winchester provided the dance and drama performances.
Lead choirs: Kings’ School and Westgate School, Winchester.
Supporting choirs:
Basingstoke
Bishopswood Junior School
Burham Copse Primary School
Chalk Ridge Primary School
Kingsclere Church Of England Primary School
Kings Furlong Junior School
Merton Junior School
Winklebury Junior School
East Hampshire
Binstead Primary School
Froxfield Church of England Primary School
Eastleigh
Hambledon Primary School
Netley Abbey Junior School
Gosport
Leesland Church of England (controlled) Junior School
Hart
Charles Kingsley’s Church Of England Primary School
Elvetham Heath Primary School
New Forest
Burley Primary School
Waterside Primary School
Rushmoor
St Michael’s Church Of England (Controlled) Junior School
Talavera Junior School
Test Valley
Andover Primary School
Appleshaw St Peter’s Church of England Primary School
Winchester
Harestock Primary School
Wednesday 2 March
Kings’ School, in Winchester provided the dance and drama performances.
Lead choirs: Bay House School (Gosport), Horndean Technology College (East Hampshire), Hurst Community College (Basingstoke) and Westgate School (Winchester).
Supporting choirs:
Basingstoke
Burghclere Primary School
Chalk Ridge Primary School
Great Binfields Primary School
South View Junior School
St John’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
East Hampshire
Andrews Endowed Church of England Primary School
Bentley Church of England Primary School
Ropley Primary School
Wesford Junior School
Eastleigh
Cherbourg Primary School
Colden Common Primary School
Knightwood Primary School
Shakespeare Junior School
Stoke Park Junior School
Fareham
Orchard Lea Junior School
Titchfield Primary School
Wicor Primary School
Gosport
Gomer Primary School
Havant
Bidbury Junior School
Mengham Junior School
Springwood Junior School
Hart
Church Crookham Junior School
Heatherside Junior School
Long Sutton Church of England Primary School
Potley Hill Primary School
New Forest
Calmore Junior School
New Milton Junior School
Western Downland Church of England Aided Primary School
Rushmoor
Park Primary School
Tavistock Infants School
Wellington Community Primary School
Test Valley
Longparish Church of England Primary School
St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School
St Francis Church of England Primary School
