STARS ARE BORN
The
Chelmsford Junior Music Festival 2017
at
the Civic Theatre
22.06.2017
When
I was their age … we would gather behind the old air raid shelter
and sing. Not the hymns and folk songs which were the Primary School
staple, but hits from the shows – My Fair Lady had just opened at
Drury Lane.
It
was lovely to be reminded of those innocent days by this impressive
performance – the last day of this year's festival.
Over
the week, 26 schools and over 1000 children have sung their hearts
out on the Civic stage – the show opened enchantingly, with seven
soloists to start, then the 200+ chorus revealed as the curtain rose.
Disney
was well represented – A Star is Born from Hercules, but there
was also Matilda, Bugsy Malone, Wicked and Rent – Seasons of Love
that opening number.
As
tradition demands, there was also a cantata. Debbie Campbell's
Emerald Crown reminds us
of the
threat to the rain forest – lots of opportunity for movement as
well as singing – Wild Cat Queen of the Jungle a stand-out number.
Natalie
Thurlow was the inspirational Musical Director, her charisma winning
over children and parents alike. Guest artistes were a promising
young trombonist and Kayleigh McEvoy, singing Puccini and I Love A
Piano, a charming early Irving Berlin.
