On Friday 28 June, One Education welcomed over 1,500 children from 30 schools around Manchester to take part in the Big ‘Country’ Sing 2024.
We were delighted to be joined by special guests Lord Mayor of Manchester, Cllr Paul Andrews, and Lady Mayoress, Karen Andrews, and guests from the education and cultural sector, for what promised to be another outstanding performance.
The One Education Big Sing is an annual event that gives school children the chance to perform music at a prestigious venue alongside professional musicians. This year, we returned to the spectacular Bridgewater Hall, which has a rich history of hosting performances by world-class musicians and artists. By bringing children to this renowned cultural landmark, we hope to connect them to Manchester’s broader musical heritage and tradition.
For many children, the Big ‘Country’ Sing was their first time attending a live music event. It was truly wonderful to see children enjoying the immersive and multi-sensory experience of live music, from the grandeur of the architecture and looming balconies, to the glittering lights, the palpable anticipation of the crowd, and the vibrations of the music trembling across the floor.
But the Big ‘Country’ Sing is not a concert like any other. Beyond listening, children are encouraged to play an active role in music-making, by singing, dancing, and engaging with the band on stage. It’s an opportunity for creative expression, building confidence, and – most of all – connecting with others.
The theme for this year’s event was Country music. Whilst children were very familiar with Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, they typically hadn’t heard much more beyond that. We were pleased to be able to introduce pupils to some of the greatest hits from the genre, whilst teaching them its history and how it has influenced the music we listen to today.
Children loved learning all about Country music and certainly found some new songs to add to their playlists! Some of their favourites included 9 to 5, Achy Breaky Heart, and 5,6,7,8. However it’s hard to pick a standout moment from the performance, as children sang their hearts out to each and every song. Together with line-dancing and yee-hawing, pupils delivered a performance we’ll never forget!
What did pupils have to say?
“It’s our first time at the Big ‘Country’ Sing and we’re really enjoying it so far. It feels like going to a concert! We’ve heard a little bit of country music before but it’s been fun hearing new songs and learning the lyrics. Exploring different genres is one of our favourite things about music. We’re looking forward to all the songs but we’re big Swifties so our favourite is definitely Love Story by Taylor Swift!”
- Pupils from St Clare’s Primary School
“We came to One Education’s Big Sing last year, but we think this year is even better with more iconic songs to dance and sing along to! Our favourites are 5,6,7,8 and 9 to 5. We love coming to these big music events and being with other schools. We like seeing who can scream the loudest!”
“We love the Big ‘Country’ Sing because we love singing songs and learning the lyrics. We came last year, but we’re big fans of the Country theme of this year’s event. There’s more songs we know this time and they’re even more fun to sing! We like 5,6,7,8 and Love Story the best.”
- Pupils from St Mary’s RC Primary School, Levenshulme
“Our favourite songs are Love Story, Achy Breaky Heart, and 9 to 5. We also like The Climb because it starts off slow and then builds up. We really enjoy being at Bridgewater Hall because we like sitting in the audience and being so close to the stage! We’ve got a great view!”
- Pupils from Crosslee Community Primary School
“We’re so happy to be at Bridgewater Hall for the Big ‘Country’ Sing, it feels very modern and exciting. We love the songs that we’re performing because they are upbeat, energetic, and have a good rhythm! Our favourites are 5,6,7,8 and 9 to 5. We’ve had lots of fun singing and showing off our dance moves. It’s like having a big party with everyone.”
- Pupils from St Margaret’s CE Primary School
A huge round of applause to the schools who took part and thanks for helping us put on a fabulous show! We hope you all enjoyed yourselves just as much as we did. With cowboy hats, bandanas, and boot-scootin’ dance moves, it’s safe to say that pupils succeeded in bringing the wild west to Bridgewater Hall!
We’d also like to thank the amazing band and everyone else involved in making the event so special. We can’t wait to see what lies in store for next year!
The One Education Music Team is proud to offer many exciting events throughout the school year, providing young people with the opportunity to perform and make music together. To find out more about our upcoming events, please visit our website or follow us on social media.
Children and young people are also welcome to sign up to one of our Music Centres, where they can continue to develop their musical skills and talents in a collaborative environment. Membership is completely free.
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