MORE than £1,500 has already been raised by hundreds of youngsters from primary schools across York ahead of a charity concert in York Minster next month.

Unicef is working with eight city primary schools to help them prepare a spectacular performance in the Minster on Wednesday, May 1, at 7.30pm.

The show will feature the musical Romany Wood, and will be opened by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.

The show was written ten years ago to raise money for a children's home and to try to interest children in classical music, and it has since been performed more than 100 times nationwide, involving 7,000 children and raising more than £100,000.

Unicef UK is now working on a four-year project to organise performances and to raise money for its work, inviting schools around the country to sign up for performances.

The composer David Gaukrodger, from Calderdale, and writer David Carr visited Dunnington CE and Wigginton CE primary schools ahead of the concert to see how the children’s preparations are going.

At Wigginton, under the direction of Jessa Liversage, the pupils are well into their rehearsals and putting the finishing touches to the songs.

The other schools taking part include St Barnabas CE, Naburn, Yearsley Grove, Clifton Green, Dringhouses, and St Oswald's with some 350 children ready to take centre stage in the Minster.

So far, the schools have raised more than £1,600 in support of the concert.

St Barnabas music teacher Vikki Pendry said the final total raised in York would be higher once the proceeds from the sale of tickets had been collected.

Much of the money raised so far has come throught fundraising events at schools like cake sales, and through the support of local businesses.

Mr Gaukrodger said: “This was a real treat to see the children at Wigginton Primary and other schools that we have visited this week in action.

The children are making a wonderful sound, and talking to them, I was pleased to hear how motivated they are by the fact that this concert will raise money to help children who are not as happy and healthy as they are."

On the day, the children will be accompanied by the Guildhall Orchestra under the baton of Simon Wright.

The performance will be narrated by poet Ian Mcmillan, and the Archbishop will welcome the children and lead a brief talk about his support for the work of Unicef.

To buy tickets, phone York Minster box office on 0844 939 0011 or visit www.boxoffice.yorkminster.org