School Choirs 2012 Final Songs of Praise

This is it, final of the tenth School Choir of the Year competition.

Three Junior and three Senior Choirs have made it through the tricky

semi-finals, and today will sing one more time

to try and amaze the judges if they're to be crowned the 2012

School Choir of the Year champions.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Hello and welcome once more to the Lowry Theatre

here in Salford Quays for this all-important final

of the 2012 School Choir of the Year competition.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

This is what all those hours of hard work is all about.

-Who wants it?

-ALL: Me!

Funnily enough, they all do.

We not only have our three Junior Choir finalists,

the best three senior school choirs in the land will be here later,

trying to win one of these, too.

And if that wasn't enough, we have the fabulous Joe McElderry

singing right here on this stage, ladies and gentlemen.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Now, the Junior Choirs are ready and waiting to go.

They are, from Croydon, Coloma Convent Girls' School.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And from Derry in Northern Ireland, it's St Patrick's Primary School.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And from Hertfordshire, it's Heath Mount School.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Yeah, the fans are in. They all clearly want to win this.

But there can only be one winner.

The three people tasked with choosing which choir that will be are our celebrity judges, of course.

First up, he's a music producer, performer, a vocal coach

to some of the biggest names in the business,

please welcome David Grant.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Our next judge has several strings to her bow to qualify for the job.

She's a choir director, choir founder, choir conductor.

She's the one and only Suzi Digby.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Our last judge is a world-class tenor with a voice

that keeps on getting bigger and better.

It's the one and only Russell Watson.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

David, these choirs have done so well to get to the final.

What can they do to get this?

To sing their hearts out, to be the best they can be,

to deliver everything they can, and to show the viewers

just how colossally high the standard of choral singing is in Junior schools.

You eat, drink, breathe choirs, Suzi, what are you looking for?

Quality of sound, and all the technical aspects -

the tuning, the blend, the balance.

But overall, what's really, really important is the integrity

of the interpretation of the words.

And Russell, let me guess - you want to get emotional?

Aled, it's the final, the nerves are going to be jangling,

that's for sure, so they've got to keep the nerves under control

and just go out there

and think about nothing other than enjoying themselves.

APPLAUSE

Now, then, to get to this stage of the competition,

each of our choirs sang a hymn.

Here's a reminder of how they made it through to the final.

# It's hard to dance

# With the Devil on your back

# They buried my body

# And they thought I'd gone

# But I am the dance and I still go on. #

# Siyahamba, siyahamba

# Siyahamba ekukhanyeni kwenkos

# Siyahamba ekukhanyeni kwenkos. #

# Dance, then, wherever you may be

# I am the lord of the dance, said he

# And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be

# And I'll lead you all in the dance, said he. #

For the final, our three choirs will sing their choice

of inspirational song.

Going first are Coloma Convent Girls' School from Croydon.

# Swing low, sweet chariot

# Coming for to carry me home

# Swing low, sweet chariot

# Coming for to carry me home

# Swing low, sweet chariot

# Coming for to carry me home

# Swing low, sweet chariot

# Coming for to carry me home

# I looked over Jordan and what did I see

# Coming for to carry me home?

# A band of angels a-following me

# Coming for to carry me home

AT A JAUNTY PACE

# Swing low, sweet chariot

# Coming for to carry me home

# Swing low, sweet chariot

# Coming for to carry me home

# I looked over Jordan and what did I see

# Coming for to carry me home?

# A band of angels a-following me

# Coming for to carry me home

# I looked over Jordan and what did I see

# Coming for to carry me home?

# A band of angels a-following me

# Coming for to carry me home

# I looked over Jordan and what did I see

# Coming for to carry me home?

# A band of angels a-following me

# Coming for to carry me...

# Home, home, home, home, home. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you, Coloma.

-David Grant, that was brilliant, wasn't it?

-Yeah, that was excellent.

I never thought I'd live to see jazz hands at the Songs Of Praise

School Choir Of The Year competition. But it worked. Everything...

Everything worked, even stuff that really shouldn't have worked worked.

You just defied certain laws of musical gravity there.

LAUGHTER

And you actually made it work, so well done to you.

APPLAUSE

-Suzi, there's a lot of pressure on these young girls.

-There is.

That was my kind of performance from beginning to end. It started...

It was so subtly moving, really moving,

and then it became fun,

and so it had this sort of range of entertainment, as well as

what I was talking about before - the integrity of the performance.

It was subtle, it was understated,

and it was technically excellent on top.

Russell, whatever happens, can the girls go home happy?

Absolutely. And first of all, wow! Where did that come from?

I mean, it was just incredible.

It's such a complex arrangement as well, that you pulled off so well.

-That was absolutely fantastic, well done.

-Thank you, judges, and thank you,

the Coloma Convent Girls' School Choir.

APPLAUSE

Atmosphere when we came off was great, we were all really happy

-with ourselves and what we'd done, what we've achieved.

-Good luck for us.

THEY LAUGH

They were winners in the semi-final, and they're still winners,

no matter what happens, because I think they've sung their hearts out.

ALL: Hurray!

Our next Junior Choir finalists are from Derry in Northern Ireland.

It's St Patrick's.

SOLO: # When I'm lying in the darkness

# And I'm half afraid to sleep

# I keep thinking of tomorrow

# And the thoughts that lie so deep

# Then I pray in talking whispers

# Cos I know that somewhere near

# Is the presence of an angel

# Come to hold me through my fears

ALL: # And who are you who guides me

# My messenger of light?

# Will you walk beside me now

# Beyond the day and night?

# Ooh ooh

# Who are you who guides me

# With words I cannot write?

# It's the voice of an angel

# Come to hold me close this night

# And who are you who guides me

# My messenger of light?

# Will you walk beside me now

# Beyond the day and night?

# Ooh ooh

# Who are you who guides me

# With words I cannot write?

# It's the voice of an angel

# The voice of an angel

# The voice of an angel

# Come to hold me close this night. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

St Patrick's Primary School, everybody.

MORE APPLAUSE

Russell, they all have angel's voices, haven't they?

It was definitely angelic, no question about that.

Particularly the young lady there. Absolutely fantastic.

You held it throughout as well.

I thought there were some nice pop inflections in there as well.

I wasn't expecting them, but they were there, which I thought was very nice and slightly different.

For me, on that performance, your tuning wasn't as good.

But overall, I thought the performance was really good.

-David, what do you think?

-Lovely solo at the beginning. Loved the tone that you guys have.

When you sing together as a choir, it's beautiful.

It's subtle, it's warm, it's bright. It's just a lovely sound.

I pick up on the point that Russell made, though - the counter melody being slightly under.

But that, to me, was the only flaw in the whole performance.

It was really understated and beautiful.

-Does it matter if the tuning is out a bit, Suzi?

-Yes, I'm afraid so.

For me, it was just a little bit. It was pretty good.

Standards are ridiculously high.

But what I admire about you is, you really explore every corner of every word.

I so enjoyed watching you.

Thank you, judges. And thank you for the time being St Patrick's primary school.

APPLAUSE

I think it went quite well.

-If we won...

-If we won...

-We'd be just ecstatic. It would be so good.

-Ecstatic!

I think they will remember this day for ever,

long after they've left St Patrick's primary school and moved on.

I just hope they treasure it for ever.

Our third and final choir in the Junior competition, performing their inspirational song,

it's Heath Mount School from Hertfordshire.

CLICKING FINGERS

HUMMING

# Wade in the water

# Wade in the water, children

# Wade in the water

# God's going to trouble the water

# Who's that yonder dressed in red?

# Wade in the water, children

# Must be the children that Moses led

# God's going to trouble the water

# Wade in the water # (Wade in the water)

# Wade in the water, children # (Wade in the water, children)

# Wade in the water # (Wade in the water)

# God's going to trouble the water

# Who's that yonder dressed in white?

# Wade in the water, children

# Must be the children of the Israelites

# God's going to trouble the water

# Wade in the water # (Wade in the water)

# Wade in the water, children # (Wade in the water, children)

# Wade in the water # (Wade in the water)

# God's going to trouble the water

# Who's that yonder dressed in blue?

# Wade in the water, children

# Must be the children that are coming through

# God's going to trouble the water

# Wade in the water # (Wade in the water)

# Wade in the water, children # (Wade in the water, children)

# Wade in the water # (Wade in the water)

# God's going to trouble the water

SOFTLY: # Wade in the water # (Wade in the water)

# Wade in the water, children # (Wade in the water, children)

# Wade in the water # (Wade in the water)

# God's going to trouble the water. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Heath Mount, ladies and gentlemen!

Suzie, are they ending on a high?

PHEW! That actually took my breath away.

It was really, really special.

If I were given that choir and asked to produce a result with that piece of music,

that's what I would hope to produce.

AUDIENCE GASPS

APPLAUSE

Russell, an emotional performance?

WOW! Absolutely fantastic. No wonder you look pleased!

The light and shade was just fantastic. That was sublime singing.

What an absolutely amazing performance.

It's a privilege to be here listening to you.

APPLAUSE

David, will they be singing for joy on the coach home?

Possibly.

You see, in any kind of music, the hardest thing to find is identity.

Here we have a choir from the southern part of England

who've taken a song more associated, when chorally sung, with the southern part of the United States.

They've put their own spin on it.

I would know this choir sound anywhere having heard them today

and that's really thanks to their choirmaster, who has done a magnificent job.

APPLAUSE

Thank you very much, judges, and before he blushes any more, a big thanks to Heath Mount as well.

We've always come second. To win it would be unbelievable.

So we were all very tense, and I think we loosened up after

five seconds of singing and just got into the groove.

The foundation of success

is hard work, hard work, hard work and nothing else.

Don't forget our three senior school finalists are still to come,

but for now, our judges have retired to make their decision

which Junior Choir will take away the trophy.

Whilst they do, I would like to welcome our very special guest.

He knows a thing or two about winning singing competitions.

Please welcome Joe McElderry.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

# Hear my prayer

# Hear my prayer

# I carry you within me

# In my darkest hour

# My guardian angel

# Who feels my deepest sorrow

# My sweetest pleasure

# There is a stillness in my heart

# A strength inside that drives me on and on

# Although my courage never falters daily

# It never fails me

# I go on

# And so I ask you for your understanding

# If I may stumble... #

CHORAL SINGING

# And with my faith in one who never leaves me

# Someone who can please me

# Someone who's always true

# Always true

# Always true... #

CHORAL SINGING

# Always true! #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Joe McElderry, everybody!

Wonderful stuff.

And Joe has agreed to present the trophy to the winning Junior Choir

in just a few moments from now.

I'm sure you've all got a favourite, but if not,

here's a quick reminder of all three Junior Choir performances.

# Swing low sweet chariot... #

The performance really took me by surprise.

# Swing low sweet chariot... #

It was quite complex and the first thing I said when I saw them was,

"Where did that come from?"

It was a very honest performance. Not overdone.

It so much reflects the personality of the conductor.

# Is the presence of an angel... #

The soloist at the beginning was absolutely fantastic.

Angelic, sublime sound.

# And who are you who guides me... #

-It was actually extremely touching throughout, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

# ..messenger of light... #

-There were some very slight tuning issues.

-There were tuning issues, yeah.

# Wade in the water... #

We had the fabulous performance by Heath Mount.

-When they were doing the chorus, wasn't it amazing?

-It was fantastic.

# Who's that yonder dressed in white... #

How seldom do you get a children's choir that gets an arrangement

that stretches them but is achievable and suits the music?

That's really credit to the choir leader.

Our choirs are back on stage. Our judges are back with their decision.

And Joe McElderry has the trophy, but not for long.

Which choir will take it home?

Suzi, how difficult a decision has it been?

It was very difficult indeed.

Say there are 20 elements we're looking for,

all of them had 18 of those.

So, to make it through as the winner is really quite an achievement.

David, what can you say to the two choirs that don't win?

What I can say is that form is temporary, class is permanent.

And I think that what we saw there was three classy choirs.

Russell, would you please announce

the winner of the Junior School Choir competition?

The Songs Of Praise Junior School Choir of the Year is...

-..Heath Mount!

-SCREAMING AND CHEERING

Lift it up.

-I think I know the answer to this, but how are you feeling?

-Amazing!

-Was it worth all the hard work?

-Definitely, yeah.

-Is this the greatest moment of your choral life?

-Yes.

I'm glad you said that.

-How do you feel, sir?

-Oh, I'm going to have a nice beer now, I think.

Well done, everyone,

you've worked so hard

and thank you to all the support from all the staff and parents.

You've been so fantastic.

Well done to the winners, Heath Mount!

Ladies and gentlemen, please can you show your appreciation

for all our Junior Choirs!

I need a lie down after that! But we have three Senior Choirs still to come

and believe me, they're worth waiting for.

Here's a reminder of how they got into the final.

# Be thou my breastplate

# My sword for the fight

# Be thou my whole armour

# Be thou my true light... #

# O praise him, O praise him.

# Alleluia

# Alleluia

# Alleluia... #

# A chyda thi rwyf innau'n siwr

# Mai tydi yw serch fy nghalon

# Ac o Dduw, addolaf di. #

The juniors were amazing, the senior choirs will be astounding, I'm sure.

Please welcome from Weybridge, St George's College.

From Salisbury, the Godolphin School.

And finally, from Llanelli, Ysgol Y Strade!

Our senior choirs have also chosen an inspirational song to perform.

Have they picked one of your favourites?

Getting us underway are St George's College from Weybridge.

# Didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Daniel

# Daniel

# Daniel

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Deliver Daniel

# Deliver Daniel

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Then why not every man?

# He delivered Daniel from the lion's den

# Jonah from the belly of the whale

# And the Hebrew children from the fiery furnace

# Then why not every man?

# Didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Deliver Daniel

# Deliver Daniel

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Then why not every man?

# The wind blow east

# And the wind blow west

-# It blow like a judgment day

-Ooo-ooh

# And every poor soul that never did pray

# Would be glad to pray that day

# Didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Deliver Daniel

# Deliver Daniel

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Then why not every man?

# Didn't my Lord, didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Didn't my Lord, didn't my Lord

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# I set my foot on the gospel ship

# And the ship, it begin to sail

# It landed me over on Canaan's shore

# And I'll never come back any more

# My Lord, my Lord

# Didn't my Lord

# My Lord, my Lord

# Oh, didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Deliver Daniel

# Deliver Daniel

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?

# Then why not every man?

# And why not every man?

# My Lord, my Lord

# Why not every man?

# My Lord, my Lord

# Why not every man?

# My Lord, my Lord

# Why not every man? #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Thank you, St George's!

What a final. David, have they just shown why they're in the final?

They have. They wowed us last week, they've wowed us again.

That was a remarkable arrangement and a remarkable execution.

These guys have opened this.

They've raised the bar, they've raised the standard.

And if the competition is going to be this high,

we are in for an amazing three performances.

Suzi, you're scribbling away.

Yes, I am.

I'm trying to put into words what is spinning around in my head.

As David says, the technical demands of the arrangement were matched

more than ably, by your performance. The tenors,

for example, when you're going into the high notes, you really kept

that consistency of tone

and quality of singing all the way through.

The basses, on that very difficult, fast-rising scale,

every note was centred.

Throughout...for me, there wasn't a weak spot in it.

I thought it was just marvellous. Thank you.

Wonderful. Russell, they've got great support in the crowd.

That's got to help, hasn't it?

-It definitely helps!

-What did you think?

What's the collective term for genius?

Genii!

That was genii. You were absolutely amazing.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Judges, thank you very much, and thank you, St George's!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

We'd sung before, in the semifinals, so it wasn't a new experience,

but the bar was just so much higher, so much more pressure.

The music department at St George's is just a big family,

so, if we win, it will be like a family wedding.

I hope they've communicated to the audience how much they want this,

just how much they need this now and how good they are.

Our next choir in the competition are Godolphin, from Salisbury.

# O, be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands

# O, be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands

# Serve the Lord with gladness

# And come before his presence with a song

# Be ye sure that the Lord he's God

# It is he that hath made us

# And not we ourselves

# We are his people

# We are his people

# And the sheep of his pasture

# O, go your way into his gates with thanksgiving

# And into his courts with praise

# Be thankful unto him and speak good of his name

# Be thankful unto him and speak good of his name

# For the Lord is gracious

# His mercy is everlasting

# And his truth endureth

# Endureth

# From ge-e-en-eration

# To ge-e-e-e

# Ne-era-a-a-a-a-a-a

# A-a-a-a-a-a-a

# A-a-a-a-a-a-a

# ..tion! #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Godolphin, ladies and gentlemen.

Suzi, you can tell that these girls are used to singing together.

They're listening to one another, aren't they?

The listening is absolutely fantastic,

and it's a very ambitious arrangement you've chosen

and you coped with that extremely well.

I wonder if the arrangement, though,

gives perhaps not an enormous amount of variety of expression through it.

It's very hard to maintain the energy you need for that text.

And what a wonderful technical achievement that last chord was,

with all that excellent staggered breathing! Well done.

Russell, how about you?

I joined in on the last note and ran out of breath!

It was a very complex piece, it must have took a huge amount of work.

I particularly liked the blend between the mezzos and the sopranos.

Fantastic.

Last word, David.

Just clusters of harmonies all the way through, which can,

I think, sound sometimes like it needs a breath,

a bit of a release, but I didn't feel that,

because the harmonic balance was constantly changing.

That last - as everybody said about that last note - the last note

and the swell on the last note, the length of it,

the accuracy of it, was fantastic!

Thank you very much, judges, and thank you, Godolphin!

'It's brilliant to have other professionals giving us'

such compliments and also suggestions for the future.

We wanted to go out there and do the best we could, for each other,

for Mrs Sparkhall, for the school and I think that's what we've done.

If we get there, wow, what an amazing, amazing finale

to what's been a fantastic couple of weeks.

Our next and last choir are from Llanelli, it's Ysgol Y Strade.

# Curo llaw

# Curo llaw

# Curady law haleliwia

# Bob unyn y gan

# Pobunheddiw

# Curady law

# Curady 'goes

# Halelwia Halelwia

# Pobundewch a cha-nu'nu-chel

# Yn y jiwbi-li

# Curady law

# Curady 'goes

# Co-fia ga-nu

# Go-fia ga-nu

# Tyrdi 'rllemaepawbyunrha-nnu

# Rhannu'n car-iadni

# Gelligly-wed nawr

# Lei-siau'ncanuyrawel

# A cho-fiacwyddy ben a cha-na'r

# Ganhonynuch-el

# Paid a bod yndawel

# Cu-rady law

# Curady 'goes

# Halelwia Halelwia

# Pobunheddiwmawr a man

# Ca-nu'rgan

# Yn y jiwbi-li

# Cu-ro llaw

# Cura'r goes

# Co-fia'r ga-n

# Halelwia

# Halelwia

# Pobun he-ddiw

# Cu-ro llaw

# Cura'r goes

# Cofia'r gan

# Rhan-nu'n car-iadni

# Gelligly-wed nawr

# Lei-siau'ncanuyr awel

# Awel

# A chof-ia cwyd dy ben a cha-na'r

# Ganhonyn u-chel

# Paid a bod yndawel

# Cu-ro llaw

# Cura'r goes

# Halelwia Halelwia

# Pobundewch a cha-nu'n u-chel

# Yn y jiwbi-li

# Tyrdnawri'rlle

# Tyrdnawri'rlle

# Pobunheddiw

# Yn y jiwbi-li

# Jiwbi-li

# Jiwbi-li

# Haleliwia! Le! #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Ysgol Y Strade, ladies and gentlemen!

-Russell, did they deliver a winning performance?

-Absolutely.

Music paints pictures in your mind.

That's what's so incredible about it.

And the picture I had in my mind during your performance

was of a train chugging along,

going up the side of a mountain, toot-toot!

Back down the other side. I've got my ticket, I'm on board!

David, is that a smile I see on your face?

Yeah, as you know, I try and not show anything

to give away what I'm feeling, but I couldn't help smiling

from the beginning to the end of that performance.

You get a dynamism and a rhythmicality

and a togetherness and a unity of sound

that just jumps off the stage and grabs you

and doesn't let go till the very last note finished.

-Suzi, were you inspired?

-Yes, I was.

What's so impressive is the minute the music started, you relaxed.

You're such a relaxed choir,

you must have a lot of faith in your conductor.

It was just, from beginning to end, a great joy.

APPLAUSE

Thank you very much, judges, and thank you, Ysgol Y Strade!

We've worked so hard!

We've been in every break time and every dinner time,

practising and rehearsing.

It's been a wonderful experience for the kids to be able to share

the stage with all the fabulous choirs.

It's been a long day, but a very rewarding one.

Our judges have retired to come to a decision.

As they do so, here's a reminder of their inspirational songs.

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel... #

In voice quality terms, they're fearless.

-I know many professional choirs who couldn't...

-Feel safe with that.

# Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel... #

I couldn't actually think of anything negative to say.

# ..Deliver Daniel... #

The director has an immense grasp on the technical issues of singing.

# O be joyful unto Him... #

I have to say, I was blown away by Godolphin!

I was waiting for the spark, and it did come towards the end,

but I did feel that it was slightly overdrilled.

There were sections of it that I thought were absolutely outstanding.

# Curo Llaw... #

Out of all the performances today,

this is the performance that I think I enjoyed the most.

They're obviously having fun doing this.

This isn't their work, this is their fun.

-Ysgol have this extraordinary unity of sound, don't they?

-Incredible.

I really enjoyed it.

# Jiwbi-li... #

-Is it between those two?

-It is, yes.

# Haleliwia! Le! #

A decision has been made

and our choirs wait nervously for the outcome.

Russell is going to present the trophy to our winning senior choir.

But before we announce the winner, David,

ten years this competition has been going,

the standard this year has been amazing.

The standard has been incredible. We had three impeccable choirs.

They were absolutely fantastic and I want to commend both them

and their leaders for giving us three wonderful performances.

APPLAUSE

OK, none of us can wait any longer. Can you announce the winner, Suzi?

The Songs of Praise Senior School Choir of the Year for 2012 is...

..St George's.

Now, guys, I have to ask you,

have you ever seen your choir mistress SO excited?

No!

-What does it mean for you to win this?

-It's a dream come true.

It's just indescribable really. It's amazing.

-Are they allowed to party this evening, Miss?

-Really hard!

LAUGHTER

St George's, ladies and gentlemen! Our worthy winners!

Congratulations to our winning Senior School Choir of the Year,

and our thanks to all the choirs for making it such a close final.

Don't you agree, ladies and gentlemen?

APPLAUSE

That's just about it for this tenth school choir competition.

If you'd like to see and hear all the choirs' performances

from throughout the competition as well as some top tips for improving your singing

from our celebrity judges and Joe McElderry, please visit our website.

Our thanks to David Grant, Suzi Digby,

Russell Watson, and all the choirs today.

From all of us here at the Lowry Theatre, goodbye!

Next week, Eamonn visits the breathtaking Causeway coast

to meet a painter, a novelist and a singer,

all inspired by this beautiful landscape.

And there's some grand hymn singing

from St Killian's College set in the heart of the glens of Antrim.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd