FINAL preparations for York’s big 800th anniversary have got under way, with a full-scale procession through the streets the city.
It was a rehearsal for next week, when hundreds of members of Ebor Vox will sing their hearts out, as the celebrations to mark the 800th year since the signing of York’s city charter reach their climax.
The large scale choral project includes choir members performing part of the specially commissioned piece, This York, on a boat at Kings Staith on Saturday.
Elsewhere, flash choirs will suddenly burst into song in shops and cafés around town.
The parade will start at York Minster at 6pm on Monday and as it processes to the Eye of York and Clifford’s Tower, the Ebor Vox choir will sing the entire This York, composed by Benjamin Till, creator of the BBCs 2010 Symphony for Yorkshire.
They will be joined by a marching band, dancers, puppets and Shepherd’s Brass Band and on arrival nine choirs will sing a selection of songs from the last 800 years.
The lyrics were written in a poetry competition earlier this year as part of the York 800 celebrations, which mark the city receiving its Royal Charter from King John, heralding the birth of local democracy.
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