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Performing Arts student Amelia is in Year 10 and has been channelling her efforts during lockdown into recording a stunning song for the local community. ‘Oceans’ is now available on our school YouTube channel and is well worth putting your day on pause for four minutes to enjoy this breathtaking performance.

Responding to the wealth of positivity generated by the song on social media, Amelia’s mum sends this message:

We appreciate the love. I wish we can make some money from the song for charities and we are asking everyone to donate to whichever charity you see fit at this current time. We want to raise awareness that the victims, survivors, NHS staff, key workers are all REAL people … they are not numbers or statistics. It’s ACTUALLY happening. Thanks to our inspiration for this – Megan Smith and her mum – with their strength and courage to keep going after sadly losing her dad Paul to this horrible virus. Thanks to all the families who have lost loved ones and kindly let us use their pictures and to friends for their work pics. Also to Formby High School’s Music Department for their hard work on the video production”

Formby High School’s Music Department is determined to keep creativity and music making alive during these unprecedented and challenging times! On Tuesday 19 May, over 100 singers from across our school, community and further afield came together for a ‘The Great Big Virtual Choir’ Zoom Rehearsal.  Mr Cook and members of staff guided participants through some fun warm-ups and a big, uplifting gospel-infused song throughout the session. We were also joined by some amazing singing friends from around the country to share some surprise performances too! These included recording artist Anna Corcoran, gospel singer Carla Jane, Craig Lees from Leeds College of Music, and West End and UK Choir Festival impresario Russell Scott.

The event was organised in response a social media request by Alzheimer’s UK for choir leaders to open up a rehearsal to raise money for the charity. Throughout the two hour ‘singathon’ the Just Giving page totaliser steadily grew, passed the £500 target and eventually topped £1500. Donations are still being taken using this link:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/formby-high-music-department

Further details about our ongoing virtual music making activities can be found here:
https://www.formbyhighschool.com/fhs-virtual-choir-2020/