Super school choir is raising the roof!

Norbreck Primary Academy’s school choir will now compete against nine others in a county-wide contest they came second in last year.

They will be joined by pupils from St Nicholas Church of England Primary School in Marton, and Anchorsholme Primary Academy, who came second and third respectively in the Choir of the Year competition, which was organised by Blackpool Music Education Hub and served as a heat for the Last Choir Singing grand final, to be held at King George’s Hall in Blackburn in June.

Karen McCarter, headteacher and choir leader at Norbreck said the success – the latest in several since 2012 – comes as a result of the school’s high standards.

Mrs McCarter, who is a grade A pianist and vocalist, said: “I audition so I take children who can sing and I work with that talent and we work between three and five days per week without fail.

“I insist on not only high standards of singing but also the way they look and dress. Everybody across the school always says they can instantly spot a child in the choir because they have the ability to behave and be quiet and show respect.

“The children love it. Their enthusiasm and effort has been overwhelming.

“As a previous runner-up of Last Choir Singing, we can’t wait to sing in the final and we’ll be doing our very best to be crowned winner.”

George Critchley, chairman of True Bearing Chartered Financial Planners, which organises the contest, attended the Choir of the Year competition to hand out prizes.

Aacclaimed international vocalist Duncan Heather announced Norbreck as the winner in front of 900 people in the Tower Ballroom.

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School, also in Marton, was honoured with a newly introduced ‘Most Artistic’ prize.

Mr Critchley said: “The atmosphere was electric and the children did a great job on their performances. We are so pleased to be involved in this event and I can’t wait to see these schools performing with our other heat winners at King George’s Hall later this year.

“Organising such an event is no mean feat and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who makes this possible.”

The three choirs, alongside seven others, will now battle it out at the historic venue on June 17. The winner will take home £1,000 in musical equipment vouchers.

Having already landed the title of the best choir in Blackpool, winning would prove to a fitting finale for Norbreck.

And the big prize could come five weeks later – the choir has been invited to perform in Liverpool on July 7.

“I have taken a phone call from the adjudicator of the Blackpool Choir of the Year competition telling me they were so impressed with the standard of the choir that they are to go to the Anglican Cathedral to perform to 600 other children to demonstrate the outstanding standard that can be reached with a primary choir,” Mrs McCarter added.