A Virtual CCB Christmas!

PUPILS got in the festive spirit by compiling a Christmas showcase for family and friends to enjoy remotely from home.

With the usual nativities, Christmas shows and carol services cancelled this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, Christ College is ensuring that pupils don’t miss out on taking part in a school production, and giving loved ones a special performance they can watch together again and again.

Each senior house bubble from Year 11 to Upper Sixth rehearsed and performed selected songs from musicals ready to be edited into a one hour musical medley ensemble and streamed to the school community via its virtual event platform during the last week of term. Taking charge of the performing arts production was premium recording service provider COBRA Music Studios , who filmed the contributions and edited them into the final picture. Based at the Riverfront Theatre, Newport, COBRA Music Studios offers location and concert recording, video production and live sound services.

Alongside the ‘cyber’ Christmas concert, Jonathan Ling, Director of Music arranged a 12 Days of Christmas series which featured festive musical treats performed by pupils and shared via its social media channels. The clips included instrumentals, ensembles and solos and culminated on 11 December with the ‘Virtual Carol’ finale;  a professional recording of ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ performed by all pupils from Juniors to Sixth Form in their individual house bubbles and edited together to create one spectacular performance.

Director of Performing Arts at Christ College, Lucy Richards, said: “We felt it was very important that the Christmas show must go on! We are conscious that pupils have missed out on so much this year and wanted to ensure they could come together – even if only in their bubbles – to rehearse, sing, play, perform and enjoy everything that comes with preparing for a school production. Although they won’t get to experience the live performance, we do hope that watching alongside their families will instil a sense of pride and end the year on a high.

“We’d like to thank COBRA Music Studios for their amazing work in making these magical productions a reality.”

Following a recent pupil wellness survey within Brecon Christ College, 91% of respondents somewhat or completely agreed that they are back into good academic routines, however there was disappointment that activities such as house music, chapel and sports fixtures are still restricted.

Head of Christ College, Gareth Pearson, said: “It is unfortunate that we have to limit certain activities, but it is crucial to safeguarding our pupils and staff and ensuring we can remain functional. Our wellness survey also found that 93% of students felt safe under our COVID measures and 95% were motivated to do well at school, which is reassuring.

“The Christmas performance will be a little different this year, but what part of 2020 hasn’t been?! We hope that parents will appreciate the festive offerings and the effort that everyone involved has put in. We can’t wait to see the show and hear the feedback from our community.”