By GEMMA BROWN

Last updated at 09:54, Friday, 12 March 2010

PUPILS at Belsay First School have been flexing their vocal muscles during a music lesson with choir members from St Nicholas’s Cathedral, in Newcastle.

After weeks of practising the classical hymn Panis Angelicus, children from reception to year four spent time working with the Cathedral Singers, Austin and Heather Gunn on Tuesday as part of an outreach project.

With Austin as director of outreach in the cathedral’s music department and leader of the Lantern Singers, one of the cathedral’s choirs aimed at boys and girls aged seven and up, the pair regularly visit schools to share their expertise.

However, an extra special guest accompanied them to Belsay.

Former pupil, and senior chorister at the cathedral, Rachel Dodd, took a trip down memory lane for the afternoon.

Rachel (14) who lives in Belsay and is now a pupil at Ponteland High School, said: “It was great to come back to the school and work with the children on something I love.

“I’ve been involved with the cathedral choir for the last two years and it was good to get involved with this project and to see some of my old teachers.”

Headteacher Christine Corbett said: “The children have had a real insight into life in the choir, from singing to trying on a cassock, and although this project is new to us it has been very successful.

“It has already inspired us to set up our own after school singing club and the children are looking forward to following it up with a visit to the cathedral in the summer term.”

First published at 09:42, Friday, 12 March 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk