Thursday 26th June was the first performance of three of Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde held at St Martin’s Ampleforth Prep School. The production was undertaken as part of the continuing partnership between Ampleforth College and North Yorkshire Music Service and involved over 300 children from local primary schools. Noye’s Fludde provided a wonderful opportunity for a large number of children to be involved, either as actors/singers or as members of the orchestra. The production in part had been funded by a major grant from the National Lottery ‘Awards for All’ scheme and in part from ticket sales.

The first performance was a huge success and most notably the performances by the primary children who were involved in the orchestra and performing in the animal chorus. ìIt seemed quite fitting that a tremendous storm broke out during the afternoon rehearsals and remnants of the storm could still be heard during the performanceî said Ian Little, Director of Music at Ampleforth College.

The schools involved over the three nights were Kirkbymoorside Primary, Malton Primary, St Peter’s RC Primary School Scarborough, Topcliffe Primary School, Sand Hutton Primary School, Sutton on the Forest Primary School, Terrington Primary School, Thornton le Dale Primary School, Hovingham Primary School, St Benedict’s Primary School Ampleforth, St Hilda’s Primary School and St Martin’s Ampleforth Prep School.