Two hundred children to take to the stage for Big Sing in Hull

Over 200 schoolchildren are getting ready to take to the stage at Hull City Hall this evening when they come together for Opera North's Big Sing.

The younger singers are being supported by 2017 Hull UK City of Culture and come from three primary schools in the city: Gillshill Primary School, Ings Primary School and Thanet Primary School. They will joined by Year 7 and 8 pupils from Baysgarth School in Barton Upon Humber, together with pupils from Opera North's Singing Schools: Adelaide Primary School, Kingswood Parks Primary School and Bude Park Primary School.

A chamber orchestra from the Orchestra of Opera North will accompany the young people as they sing a selection of songs from Stephen Deazley's Little Book of Monsters, a light-hearted look at mischievous fiends in all their guises. The orchestral ensemble will also play excerpts from Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

In preparation for the big day, pupils and teachers have been taking part in a series of school-based vocal workshops focused on developing and perfecting singing technique. The final performance will be the first time all the children have sung together.

Jacqui Cameron, Opera North Education Director, said: