Pupils to sing 300-year-old Latin music in concert

The schoolchildren will perform with musicians and a professional choir

A group of schoolchildren are set to sing newly-discovered 300-year-old music in Latin as part of a choral performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Music charity Armonico Consort has been working with 80 pupils from three local primary schools in Yeovil.

It is part of a project to get more children into music, with the scheme reaching up to 15,000 young people every year.

Artistic director, Christopher Monks, said: "We've been training the kids to be really, really good singers, without blinding them with rocket science - basically making singing fun."

Pupils from three primary schools will perform their songs at the Royal Albert Hall

Teachers from All Saints Church of England Primary School, Preston School and Kingfisher Primary School are being trained as choir leaders, to help with their skills when it comes to music education.

Mr Monks said the project had been "great fun".

"As long as the person in front of them believes in what they're doing, the kids will do anything - they will go with whatever you say," he added.

"They've been absolutely hilarious.

"Around here, they're hungry to learn, they're hungry for for opportunities and they're fascinated and curious and just brilliant fun to work with."

Christopher Monks said the project had been "great fun"

Claire Hodgson, headteacher at Preston Primary School, told BBC Radio Somerset: "It's absolutely amazing.

"We love every opportunity so when this came along we thought we must be part of it, and they've loved every single minute of all the rehearsing that's gone into it - it's lots and lots of effort."

She added: "Creative arts is hugely important in the curriculum.

"It's the chance to give these children an opportunity to show their talents and what talented children they are so we love it."

Parents were invited to the event in Yeovil

Dexter from Kingfisher Primary School, described singing in Latin as "pretty hard", but added: "Once you get it, you can sing it properly."

He said performing at the Royal Albert Hall on 9 July will be "really exciting, because you know you're going to sing in front of 2,000 people."

Armonico also performed in Yeovil later on in the evening, after rehearsing with the children.