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Choir sings a success story

YOUNGSTERS from a Northamptonshire school, have hit the high notes after winning their way through to the National Choral Competition at London's Festival Hall.

The 36-strong choir, from Rushden's Whitefriars Junior School, will be among the 1,200 singers at the top London venue on June 22.

Only nine junior choirs from the whole of the country will be there.

The choir, under the baton of teacher Judith Tomlinson, will not be short of support as two coachloads of supporters are going to see them take to the stage.

Whitefriar's headteacher, David Thredkill, said the eight to 11-year-olds had put in a lot of practice in and out of school to reach their peak.

The pupils won their regional final at Birmingham last month and were among the best in the country, said the head.

"They deserve the recognition," he said. "It is super for the school and a wonderful start for me," said the man, who took over the school at Easter.

"The choir meets two or three times a week after school, and puts in a lot more time at weekends. They seem to have hit it off and have always had a good reputation for singing.

"The sky is the limit. It is a very small choir but it has a very high standard.

"We give the children every opportunity to perform and it is a high priority.

"We will be taking along two coaches for the contest, for the children and parents. It is a tremendous achievement."

The annual contest has awards for the most outstanding and highly commended performances and a new composition award also goes to the top GCSE students.

Among the other competitors is Montagu School.