Putting music at the heart of island life, Jersey Sings Across the Bay is a huge showcase of the arts and an exciting opportunity for primary and secondary school children to experience the thrill of performing in one of the largest choirs ever assembled in Jersey.
The event is carried out in partnership with Jersey Music Service and made possible by many donors, including corporate support from Zedra.
Returning this year on 19th June, islanders can see a mass performance of 500 children at 13:00 at the Beach Amphitheatre by Jardins de la Mer, led by the incredible singing leader Alexander L’Estrange who has led massed choir workshops across the UK and in America. Percussion leaders include Janet Fulton (Principal Percussionist of Manchester Camerata) and Andrea Vogler (Professor of Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music).
Singing their hearts out, the young singers from 14 primary and secondary schools across Jersey from Le Quennevais to Mont A L’Abbe will present a 50-minute concert with an impressive variety of songs from rock to pop to classical, including performances by 9-year old local musical talent Madeleine Harvey. Classics shall indeed be featured, from ‘Radio Gaga’ to ‘World in Union’, alongside ‘Zadok Rules – Hallelujah!’ (an 8-minute musical celebration of the UK’s rich cultural heritage) by Alexander L’Estrange and ‘Power in Me’ (the Jersey Sings anthem composed by local teacher Rebecca Lawrence), with the participation of leading West End singers, all accompanied by the electrifying Jersey Sings Band.
Another exciting feature of the programme will be two specially commissioned pieces for Jersey. The first, composed by Janet Fulton, takes the RNLI messages about water safety and transforms them into a song and a percussion piece. The second, ‘Save Our Sea’, is inspired by the Oceans and Sustainability and looks at the natural waters surrounding Jersey, enabling the children to learn about sea life and the importance of saving our oceans.
Leading the show, the star soloists from the West End include Aimee Atkinson and Brian Gareth Gilligan. Olivier Nominated Actress & Winner of the BBC Voice of Musical Theatre & Voice of Astana, Aimie has just finished playing REM in Death Note at the London Palladium. Before this she completed a record-breaking run playing Julia Robert’s character Vivian Ward in the West End Production of Pretty Woman. She is most known for her portrayal of Katherine Howard in the original cast of Six The Musical in London’s West End.
Also co-starring is Brian Gareth Gilligan who has just finished the UK and Ireland tour of Disney’s The Lion King playing the role of the infamous villain, Scar. He was also a semi-finalist of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ 2019, where he sang his way into the hearts of millions.
Music will be creating feel-good waves for everyone present. Supporting the massed choir performance at 13:00 will be young musicians and adult performers from 11:30 to 15:30 in a hut at Jardins de la Mer, including Les Quennevais steel band playing music full of energy, creativity and fun.
