After months of development and rehearsals, around 1400 pupils from schools across the Diocese of Salford raised the roof of the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry, Salford Quays, in celebration of music, faith, and care for common home. This was attended by an audience of education and environment leaders, politicians, music experts, and more.

Sir John Rutter, NSSP Patron introduced the concert and conducted a performance of his work ‘Look at the World’.

Pupils from 22 schools across Greater Manchester and Lancashire then sang in the debut performance of Songs of the Earth, a new set of six short choral songs inspired by nature and created by schoolchildren from the Diocese of Salford. This new musical masterpiece has been developed as part of the diocese’s work with the National Schools’ Singing Programme, a UK-wide initiative to encourage the teaching of choral music in primary schools. As part of the programme, Salford Cathedral’s Music Department has begun working with schools across the diocese to develop skills in songwriting and performance whilst exploring a range of themes and issues in this new project called the Salford Songbook.

Canon Michael Jones, Dean of Salford Cathedral, said: “Our cathedral music department plays an integral role in our parish community, helping people connect with and deepen their faith through the beauty of sung worship. Today, it’s particularly wonderful to see that impact reaching far across the diocese, through our Schools Singing Programme, enabling more than 1000 children to discover and explore our faith through the uniting power of music.”

Alex Patterson, Director of Music for Salford Cathedral, said: “It’s been a real joy to see our children and young people responding so creatively to the beauty of creation and exploring themes around caring for our common home. Hannah has done a fantastic job in bringing together their ideas and creating songs which the children love singing and which will become a must-do set of pieces for singing communities across the globe.”