Singing has tended to take a back seat in some York schools - until now, that is. Education reporter HAYDN LEWIS went to meet a university graduate who has enlisted 1,000 pupils from 20 schools for a city-wide choral festival.

WHEN pupils from Wheldrake School perform Food, Glorious Food from Lionel Bart's musical Oliver in a choral extravaganza later this week it will be a proud moment not just for their teachers, mums and dads - but for a dedicated University of York student.

While researching for her MA in community music, 21-year-old scholar Julia Mock discovered singing often dropped to the bottom of the list of priorities for extra-curricular school activities.

The Oxford Brookes University music graduate set out to remedy the situation by running a non-competitive choral festival for children of all ages.

Julia has since recruited about 1,000 youngsters from 20 city schools and worked with a number of their choirs on vocal training.

I went to Wheldrake With Thorganby School to meet Julia, where she was working with head teacher Helen Rodbourn and the school choir ahead of the festival.

Julia said: "I think sometimes choral singing can be overlooked. We have all got voices - it is so important to do group music as it is such a social activity. This festival provides the opportunity to showcase the talent at schools in York."

Pupil Beth Turns, ten, said: "I really enjoy singing because some day I might be able to get good at it and be a pop star.

"I'm feeling a bit nervous about the festival, but it might be quite fun."

Natasha Hoare, seven, said: "I like singing because I can shout my voice out loud. It just makes me feel good the more I sing. I'm looking forward to the other schools being there. It feels quite important, and we can see how good we are."

Ben Hodgson, nine, said: "My mum is a singer and I want to follow in her footsteps.

"I like singing in the church choir, but I wouldn't want to sing on my own."

Tom Mullen, ten, said: "I like singing in the choir, but not on my own. I'd just feel scared because everyone's looking at you and nobody's there to back you up."

Saskia Mitcham, nine, said: "I like using my voice in different ways going higher and lower."

The Wheldrake School choir will perform Food, a song by Clifford Crawley, as well as the Lionel Bart classic.

Mrs Rodbourn said the school has run a singing group for five years as an after-school club.

She said: "I would have been a bit concerned if this had been competitive, but I think that at this age it's important to encourage them to sing and this whole thing seems to have been extremely well organised.

"Julia coming in to school has been really good to teach us all how we can sing better."

The festival will be held tomorrow and Friday at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, at the University of York. The sessions are 9.30am to 11.15am and 1.30pm to 3.15pm on both days.

Updated: 11:30 Wednesday, March 15, 2006