2000 pupils tune up for annual music showcase

The sound of music is making itself heard across Manchester this week as pupils from the city's schools are tuning up ready for their performances in Manchester Music Service's annual Music Showcase.

The week long event begins Sunday 4th July and will see musical performances from around 2000 pupils who range in age from 5 to 19 years. 

This year's event will see all musical tastes catered for - choirs, orchestras, high school bands, and a variety of ensembles from across the city will all be taking part in performances during the week.

The week opens on Sunday with a 'Showcase Rocks' event at the Zion Centre, Hulme from 3 pm - 5 pm.  This will feature eleven up and coming rock groups and singers - including two acts, singer Ruby Anne Patterson, and Illusion, who have collaborated with others during the last few months to produce an album of contemporary original songs that would easily stand alongside the latest international chart hits.  Their album will be on sale at each of the concerts during Showcase week.

Each day after that from Monday 5th to Friday 9th July will see a different evening concert starting at 7:30 pm at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), with pre-concert entertainment for half an hour before each concert starts in the foyer of the RNCM.  Each concert will be presented by young people.

There will also be festivals of music each weekday morning at the RNCM showcasing a number of different musical projects for young people.  These include the Wider Opportunities String Project, the Cathedral Outreach project featuring Cathedral choristers in a newly composed piece for the project, the 'Switch on Sound' African project, a jazz event with renowned jazz musician Neil Yates working with young jazz musicians, and the Wider Opportunities Recorder project.

The annual Music Showcase is organised by Manchester's national award winning Music Service, that every week provides music tuition to more than 16,000 pupils.  Weekly instrumental tuition covers all the instruments you would expect to see in an orchestra and more besides - with many pupils playing traditional brass, woodwind and stringed instruments, alongside others who play African drums, balalaikas, and steel pans.  Many other pupils have opportunities to sing each week, either in school or in district choirs.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member Children's Services, Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester has always been a very musical city, and the annual Music Showcase event provides a fantastic opportunity for children and young people to show just how talented they - the city's next generation of musicians - really are."

Tickets are available from the RNCM, tel: 0161 907 5555, priced £4, or £10 for a family of four.  Other concessions are also available.