Mansfield Schools in Children’s Massed Choir at Festival Concert 5th May 1951
Mansfield Schools provided five of the fifteen scholars selected from Nottinghamshire schools to participate in the massed choir of 1,150 voices taking part in the Schools Music Association Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London on Sunday afternoon, in connection with the Festival of Britain.
Mr Harry Smith (headmaster Pleasley Hill Secondary Modern School) trained the young singers from Nottinghamshire. The local choir left Mansfield on Saturday morning and attended a full rehearsal in the Kingsway Hall on Saturday afternoon, and in the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday morning . They returned to Mansfield on Sunday evening.
An audience of over 8,000 attended the concert which was conducted by Sir Adrian Boult, and the singing was accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. A cantata, ‘The Sons of Light’ had been specially composed by Dr Ralph Vaughn Williams, who was present to hear the choir sing the first public performance of the work. Ursla Wood, the poetess who wrote the words of the cantata, was also present. The massed choir also sang fourteen other songs, including ‘Song For a Festival,’ specially composed by Dr George Dyson.
The choir were the guests of the Acton School Music Association, and were billeted in private homes.
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