For the seventh year running, 46 of our children from Primary 6, Primary 7, S1 and S2 performed as the Choir in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this summer.
The children have been taking part in 25 performances that began on Thursday 1 August, and they will finish their run on Saturday 23 August.
Prepared by the ESMS Director of Music, Sandy Chenery, the children have had an incomparable musical experience, mixing with adult performers from all over the world including China, Nigeria, Germany, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and France. They even had the honour one evening of singing the National Anthem of Trinidad and Tobago, accompanied by the Massed Bands, in honour of a visit to the Tattoo by the President.
The children sing on 13 separate occasions during the Show; their favourite moments include leading the opening fanfare unaccompanied, singing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ with the Trinidadian Steel Band and performing music from the The Greatest Showman as fireworks explode all around the Castle. Their most treasured moment, however, is undoubtedly the trust placed in them to sing the Evening Hymn, ‘Be Still My Soul’, in honour of the fallen, accompanied only by the Massed Bands.
Not content with singing in the Tattoo every night groups of the children have also been performing each evening at one or more of the pre-show dinners which take place on or close to the Castle Esplanade.
The children have been fantastic representatives of ESMS and of Edinburgh, and we wish them continued enjoyment as they complete their final week of performing. Already back at school, they are having to draw on their reserves of resilience as they continue to produce outstanding performances!
