PUPILS from primary schools across Sunderland joined Durham Cathedral’s girl and boy choristers in a celebration of song.

Around 270 pupils from nine primary schools took part in the culmination of a term’s partnership work between Durham Cathedral’s acclaimed Music Outreach programme and Sunderland Music Hub.

Each term the cathedral worked with a different local authority and its primary schools.

Sunderland Music Hub is run by Together for Children and works with schools, teachers, young people and organisations across the city, to ensure all young people can access a high quality music education.

The Cathedral Choristers and James Randle, Director of Music Outreach at Durham Cathedral, have been visiting and working with Sunderland primary schools to train them and their teachers in 45 minutes of song over the last six weeks, with the lessons culminating in the performance at the Cathedral.

Mr Randle said: “This has been a fantastic term with pupils from Sunderland, who have work extremely hard to prepare for this musical celebration in Durham Cathedral.

"In a very short space of time the children and their teachers have prepared eight songs to sing together and have enjoyed a morning of working with the Cathedral Choristers.

"These occasions are always very special, and we look forward to seeing the Cathedral full of children, enjoying singing together in this iconic space.”

Rebecca Pedlow, Sunderland Music Hub Manager at Together for Children, added: “The chance to sing at such a prestigious location as Durham Cathedral doesn’t come along very often and all of the children and their teachers are excited to perform alongside the Choristers. It’s sure to be a fantastic experience.”