Musical youth take to the world stage

All together now: Richard Frostick, programme director for the British Council, with Brazilian master trainer Paulo Bazulle, at St Matthew’s School

OLDHAM was alive with the sound of music this week as youngsters prepared for two concerts in Manchester for the World Voice programme.

Pupils from St Matthew’s Primary School in Chadderton joined youngsters from eight other Greater Manchester primary schools for today’s concerts at the university, the culmination of a musical exchange programme organised by the British Council and Greater Manchester Music Hub.

Fourteen countries make up the World Voice network.

Trainers from 10 countries this week teamed up with primary schools across the nine areas of the Greater Manchester Music Hub to train for today’s concerts.

St Matthew’s pupils were coached by Brazilian master trainer Paulo Bazulle. Gerard Booth, director of Music for Oldham, said: “The GM Music Hub has been chosen by the British Council to work with them on this project and this is such a great honour for the North-West. Without doubt this will be another wonderful experience for our young people.”