Last weekend we were invited to a performance of Mass in Blue by Youth Choral Worcestershire in the cathedral. This is a project set up in 2010 to provide educational singing projects to young people in the county, particularly those who have limited opportunity to access this sort of experience. It is open to any secondary school in Worcestershire and provides the opportunity to learn a major choral work with world class professionals and sing it in a major concert venue and is the brainchild of Anne Renshaw who has a vision of the highest quality of music in the city being open for all.

Well, the energy, enthusiasm and top-notch performance this week is testament to the success of this project. Christopher Whitehead and RGS from the city were joined by other county schools, cathedral youth choir and international students from the USA together with an internationally acclaimed conductor, jazz band and soloists to give us such an unforgettable performance.

The sad thing is that this is exactly the sort of thing that is being cut with a narrowing of the national curriculum and underfunding of the arts. Anne was twice turned down for financial help from the Arts Council for the project and it was only because of generous funding from The Bransford Trust, Worcester City Council and Worcestershire Community Foundation that this could go ahead. Music provides a great way to learn teamwork and broaden horizons. I know that opportunities like this can literally change a young person’s life. It is a travesty that without opportunities like this, music is often now limited to an affluent few.

Well done to everyone involved and thank you Anne for everything you do.