Children from Norfolk will take part in the first ever National Children’s Remembrance Concert to mark the centenary of the end of the signing of the armistice to end the first World War, alongside over two thousand young people from England and Wales.
The Lest We Forget Children’s Concert will take place at the Gentings arena, NEC Birmingham on the evening of Saturday 3 November 2018.
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Hosted at Birmingham’s NEC, the concert comes at the end of a 4-year programme to honour and remember those who lived, fought and died in the First World War. For more information see First World War centenary.
Minister for Faith Lord Bourne confirmed the ‘Lest We Forget’ concert, backed by £90,000 government funding will take place in November 2018 as part of the government’s centenary programme of ceremonial events, cultural activity and education.
Music and songs to be featured will include: ‘Nimrod’ from Elgar’s Enigma Variations, which is played at the Cenotaph in London each Remembrance Sunday, ‘Silent Night’, the Christmas carol said to have been sung by British and German soldiers during the December truce and songs popular among soldiers such as ‘Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag’ and ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’. Readings from diaries and letters written at that time will also be given and archive film footage from the trenches will be shown.
The concert was conceived by celebrated children’s author and retired education expert Dr Ron Dawson, who also composed the song ‘Lest we forget’.
Performers include a 2000 strong mass children’s choir, Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra, Ealing Youth Orchestra, the debut performance of the National Youth Pipe and Drum Band, Sandwell Youth Brass Band, Birmingham Schools Guitar Ensemble, Leicestershire Show Choir, plus performers from Wales, Norfolk, Bournemouth and Sutton Coldfield and a Parade of 57 Flags by Scouts and Guides.
The concert is supported by the DCLG, The Big Lottery, Services For Education, Arts Council England and the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music.