Birmingham schoolchildren to perform at Commonwealth Day celebrations

Fifty children from two Birmingham primary school choirs will perform at two events to mark Commonwealth Day in Birmingham on Monday, 10 March.

Their performances will include a song written by a Birmingham music teacher inspired by speeches made by the late Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of recent Commonwealth Games.

Birmingham’s Commonwealth Day activities are part of an international programme of events across all 56 Commonwealth countries celebrating shared Commonwealth values and an opportunity for 2.4 billion people to come together.

Choirs from Colmore Junior School, Kings Heath and Tiverton Academy, Selly Oak will perform at two events organised by Birmingham Commonwealth Association in performances supported by Birmingham charity Services For Education whose Music Services each week teaches music to 32,000 Birmingham children.

Twenty-five children from Colmore Junior School will perform at a special Commonwealth Citizenship Ceremony at Birmingham Registry Office at 2pm when around 30 adults and children from Commonwealth nations will be granted Citizenship of the United Kingdom.

The ceremony will be attended by Deputy-Lieutenant for the West Midlands Sir David Thompson and The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Ken Wood. 

That evening, children from Tiverton Academy will perform at the Commonwealth Dinner organised by the Birmingham Commonwealth Association in the Symphony Ballroom of Birmingham’s Hyatt Hotel attended by representatives of West Midlands Lieutenancy, consulates and diplomatic missions, Birmingham City Council leaders and councillors, civic and faith representatives, community leaders and senior business figures.

At both events, the choirs will perform a specially composed song – Come Together Everybody – written by Birmingham music teacher Sarah Baker, commissioned and permission given to perform by Services For Education.

The song includes the words of the late Queen Elizabeth II in her messages of family, friendship and togetherness given at the opening ceremonies of recent Commonwealth Games. The aim is for it to be performed world-wide in Commonwealth countries – as has happened in Malawi.

In the morning, The Annual Commonwealth Day Service will be held at St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham. It will be attended by The Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Derrick Anderson CBE, The High Sheriff for the West Midlands, Faith leaders and other dignitaries with entertainment provided by the Nishkam School choir and B:Music Workplace Choir.

Keith Stokes-Smith, chairman of Birmingham Commonwealth Association, said: “Commonwealth Day is celebrated worldwide, and it is fitting that Birmingham – which is home to so many representatives of Commonwealth nations and territories - should mark the Day with such a wide variety of events.

“I am delighted that it will also be an occasion that a choral work composed here in Birmingham, inspired by the words of the late Queen at Commonwealth Games’ opening ceremonies, will be performed in our city.

“It is a fitting tribute to the work and beliefs of the late Monarch who inspired so many young people.”  

Pictured: School children in Malawi perform 'Come Together Everybody' that will be featured in Birmingham's Commonwealth Day events