Talented teenagers from a girls school in North Wales had their first taste of stardom singing in front of thousands of people – as they take on the might of X-Factor
The seven pupils from Howell’s School, in Denbigh, performed at the big switch on of the Christmas lights in Chester.
They delighted the crowds with the first public outing for the charity single that was recorded at the state-of the-art studio at Howell’s.
The performance was also broadcast live by a local radio station.
It will be going head to head with the big guns of the X-Factor juggernaut for the Christmas Number One spot in the charts.
Their version of the hit, Iridescent, by the US super-group Linkin Park will be released on November 28.
The charity single is the idea of music company Inscreen Records who are raising money to help the communities devastated by the recent inner city riots.
The Howell’s girls sang alongside the unsigned artists recruited for the chart-challenging fund-raiser.
Music teacher Morwen Murray says, Operation Underdog, the programme behind the idea for the charity single, is a fantastic concept and is delighted girls from the Howells embraced the idea so enthusiastically.
She said: “Our girls were so enthusiastic and really got behind the project. I was unsure about the choice of song at first but listen to the lyrics and it becomes obvious.
“It’s all about people who have lost everything and now need to move on and rebuild their lives. It’s a song born of desperation and is for those people affected by the civil unrest by people who want to help.”
Howells School pupil Abigail Gardener, 17, of Denbigh, says the whole project has been a remarkable experience and something she is thrilled to have been a part of.
Abigail, who is hoping to study music and drama at a college in Atlanta, Georgia, said: “It really was a good experience. And we all thoroughly enjoyed performing the song on stage in Chester as the Christmas lights were switched on.”
Chelsea Grimshaw, 15, who hails from Backford, Chester, says recording the song was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
She said: “It was a little bit nerve-wracking as we each sang individually in the recording studio before all singing together.
“I did enjoy performing in Chester for the switch on of the Christmas lights although it did make me think about those who are trying to rebuild their lives after the summer unrest.”
Stephanie O’Hare, 15, of Denbigh says she found filming the video that accompanies the single enjoyable but quite daunting.
She said: “We never knew if we were on camera or not and at first we were all very self-conscious. However, after a while you get used to the fact that the cameras are there.
“Performing in Chester was a really good experience and it has certainly got us all in the festive spirit!”
Laura Murphy, 18, of Rhuallt, says the girls were delighted to have been broadcast live on the local radio station, Dee 106.3, as they performed in Chester.
She said: “It was fabulous and the crowds really seemed to like the song. The whole experience has been something to remember and we were all thrilled to have had the opportunity to take part.”
Paige Strugnell, 15, of Mold, was equally thrilled to have had the opportunity to record the charity single.
She said: “It is something we can be proud of and who knows, perhaps fame and fortune awaits. Performing in Chester as a group was brilliant although there was little time to prepare.
“Representing our school, parents and ourselves made the occasion worthwhile. The recording studios at our school are first class and I believe the single has every chance of doing well.”
The youngest Howells School student to take part in the project was Rhyl’s Brooke Roberts, 14.
She said: “It was brilliant and something we will always remember. Performing in Chester was really good although we had no time to prepare.
“We only found out we were going at 8.30am on the morning of the big Christmas lights switch on and we had to be there by 4pm.”
Anastasia Calveley, 15, of Llanarmon-yn-Llal, Flintshire, added: “We can’t wait to see the video that will accompany the song although there is already a small clip on YouTube.”
Robbie Locke, of Howell’s School, said: “We’re extremely pleased to be part of this exciting project.
“The producers of the single were thrilled to have the opportunity to record the single in our first class recording studio and they said the school buildings and the grounds provided a b beautiful backdrop for the accompanying video.”
Inscreen Music chairman Rob Lloyd says the charity single project, which stems from the summer riots that devastated many city centres, is hugely exciting.
He said: “Fifty per cent of the money raised will go to the local communities who help keep children off the streets and away from drugs, alcohol abuse and violence.
“Howells School was our choice as it combines a cutting edge recording studio with fantastic facilities, a stunning setting and, of course, fabulously talented students who performed so well alongside the unsigned artists we brought in.”
