WORCESTER, U.K. -- Four hundred singers from ten nations have created a buzz in the city from the moment they started their street singing on Saturday, the stunning Welcome Concert that followed, services and concerts in local churches and venues, and by being such a colourful presence throughout the week - visually and vocally.
Anne Renshaw, Sing UK Operations Director, said “To see this new concept come to the UK and take hold in such an infectious way, has been absolutely wonderful. The warm, co-operative atmosphere has purveyed throughout. Impromptu shared outdoor performances and rehearsals have been a feature of the week, whilst the delight in, and appreciation of, each other's music has been a constant binding element.”
Rehearsals will be going on all day in the Cathedral, as the singers prepare with their international conductors for the Gala Concert at 7.30pm.
There is little doubt that the Festival will have changed the lives of the young people who have worked together this week. Appropriately, the concert ends with the choirs performing Five Days That Changed The World, a WIFYS commission from world famous choral composer, Bob Chilcott, who has been an atelier (workshop) leader this week.
Tickets are available via Worcester Live Box Office on 01905 611427 or visit http://www.worcesterlive.co.uk/boxoffice.asp.
Notes for editors
For more information please visit: http://singuk.org/wifys
Worcester International Festival for Young Singers
The Worcester International Festival for Young Singers 2013 (WIFYS - pronounced "Why-Fiss") is the first-ever non-competitive international festival for children's and youth choirs in the UK.
This ground-breaking, vibrant arts event (20 - 26 July) has seen around four hundred young singers from eleven outstanding youth choirs from ten nations share their national musical traditions and cultures in a week-long event featuring a range of public concerts, street singing and workshops culminating in a Gala Concert in Worcester Cathedral on Friday 26th July that features the première of a work specially commissioned for the Festival, Five Days that Changed the World, by composer and workshop leader, Bob Chilcott.
Four international choral conductors have lead the workshops that has seen see young people from different nations working together under a banner of "Peace & Unity between Nations" thus reaffirming the mission of the European Choral Association – Europa Cantat, of which Sing UK is a member.
Sing UK works with partners in the field of education, music and community development to deliver exciting, high quality singing projects in schools and local communities, together with high-profile national events. It works with children and young people, their families, teachers and local authorities throughout the UK to create programmes which suit local needs.
As a Community Interest Company it is a not-for-profit organisation, working to benefit local communities. It is funded through strategic relationships with corporate partners to fulfil shared objectives, and with support from local benefactors, national grant-giving organisations, trusts and foundations.
