Haileybury takes on the best in choir of the year competition

Haileybury pupils will be competing with the very best schools in the land as they attempt to win the coveted title ‘School Choir of the Year’ this weekend in Manchester.

Currently celebrating its tenth year, the BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year competition is highly anticipated and showcases the most talented school choirs across the UK. The event will be recorded in The Lowry Theatre, opposite the new home of BBC North in Salford.

Explains Haileybury’s Director of Music, Quentin Thomas: "Each of the semi-finalists gets to sing one arrangement of a hymn before being voted in or out of the final (Haileybury’s choice is Angel Voices – Monk, Pott, arr. Quentin Thomas); but we really hope we get to perform the Steal Away in the final!"

The judging line-up will include former pop singer and vocal coach to the stars, David Grant, and conductor, musician, choirmaster, teacher and performer Suzi Digby and the People’s Tenor, Russell Watson.

Aled Jones will present all three of these 45-minute programmes, (two semi-finals and a final), which will air on BBC One: the Senior Semi-final Competition on Sunday, 22 April and the joint Final competition on Sunday, 29 April 2012. Please see TV listings for precise transmission times.