Pilgrims children shine at Bedfordshire Festival

Children from Pilgrims recently graced the stages at the Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama – performing to delighted crowds as part of the week-long event.

We are so proud of how the children performed, playing confidently and putting huge smiles on the audiences’ faces.

Pilgrims take part in the festival every year and the children really look forward to it, eager to show their talents and musical ability.

Here, Angela Knight, Pilgrims’ music teacher, reflects on this fantastic event.

Festival Fun

This year’s Bedfordshire Festival was wonderful – and I was lucky enough to have the pleasure of watching all the Pilgrims children perform.

It’s an event the school has been part of for more than a decade, and something the children count the days to every year.

I was so proud of every one of them and how they performed, as well as the hard work they had put in preparing to get up on stage.

One of the great things about performing on stage is the confidence and resilience it gives our children, as well as the sense of achievement they feel when they hear their well-earned round of applause.

The children received some lovely comments from members of the public following their performances, many commenting on how smart the Pilgrims children looked.

They all performed brilliantly and should be hugely proud of what they achieved.

Choir

The school choir gave a great performance in the non-competitive class at this year’s festival.

We received lots of really positive feedback from the adjudicator following their incredible performance. 

We would like to say a massive well done to everyone involved! 

Individual Piano Classes

Children from Pilgrims took part in four piano classes.

They all received some really lovely comments from the adjudicator, who also gave valuable advice on how to make their performances extra special. 

Talking to the stage in a solo competition is especially daunting so to have the confidence to perform as they did at this age is a tremendous achievement.

Congratulations to:

Taliyah – 2nd place (Class 78A)

Mia K – 3rd place (Class 78A)

Ara – 2nd place (Class 78B(ii))

Kai – 3rd place (Class 78B(ii))

Chloe – 3rd place (Class 79)

Thank you to all the children who took part – we are so proud of you.

Orchestra and String Ensemble

Pilgrims Orchestra and String Ensemble enjoyed performing in the non-competitive “Have a Go” class, and really outdid themselves.

Both groups received excellent and well-deserved comments from the adjudicator and performed extremely well together. 

It was a great experience for them, and a wonderful start for when they move on to larger orchestras and ensembles as they get older.

Singing Classes

One of our children, Jemima, took part in the Year 2 and 3 Voice Class and did a fantastic job performing – achieving 2nd place in the competition and receiving some lovely, well-deserved comments from the adjudicator.

Well done, you were brilliant!

Drama

The children who took part in the drama classes also represented Pilgrims wonderfully, with the Year 1 drama group receiving 2nd place.

The children all showed great confidence on stage and impressed the adjudicator with their expression and enthusiasm. 

The Arts at Pilgrims

At Pilgrims, we know how important music and drama are to a child’s development.

With children this age it’s so important to have a positive experience of music, playing together and expressing themselves.

Children at Pilgrims have the opportunity to learn a host of instruments including piano, cello, violin, viola, ukulele, guitar, drums, as well as singing – that’s from Year 1. 

In Reception, we have recently introduced a new string method called ‘stringbabies’ which is especially designed for very young children learning a stringed instrument. 

Children in Reception are now given the opportunity to take this up from the Spring term onwards.

As a school, all Year 2 children learn glockenspiel which enhances their learning of notation

We put on music assemblies two or three times a year to give the children the chance to play for their parents and guardians as well as their class mates – and the children just love it. It gives them something to work towards too.

Music provides life-long skills, opens their minds to new interests, gives them the confidence to know they can take on any challenge and gives them an enormous sense of achievement.

For more news from Pilgrims see here.