14 March 2009
Voices of the Future children perform on ROH stage
On 14 March, 200 young people performed a brand new choral work, On the Rim of the World, at the Royal Opera House. This is the first time a new musical work has been commissioned for young voices and performed on the Royal Opera House main stage. The evening was compered by National Singing Ambassador Howard Goodall with an audience of 2000.
On the Rim of the World has been composed by Associate Composer of the Royal Opera House, Orlando Gough, with lyrics by Jehane Markham and features young singers, parents and staff from Kent schools and community members from the Thurrock area. The work forms part of ROH Education project Voices of the Future, which promotes the enjoyment of singing and invests in repertoire suitable for young voices. The young people and their teachers have been rehearsing with Royal Opera House professionals since October 2008.
Since 2007, the Stratreal Foundation has jointly funded Voices of the Future with the Paul Hamlyn Education Fund as part of its commitment to promoting a resurgence of singing in schools. A central element of Voices of the Future is teacher training and personal development, enabling these teachers to be singing leaders.
