Hundreds of Marlborough primary school children will raise their voices next week to help less fortunate children around the world.

School choirs will take part in the World Vision Kids for Kids Top of the World concert, held over three nights in Blenheim.

The concert takes place every two years and runs across the country, helping raise funds for the charity World Vision.

Different school choirs will sing on each night acting, as backing vocals for Kiwi music icon Suzanne Prentice.

Witherlea School pupil Abigail Watts, 8, said she was excited about being on stage with a Kiwi celebrity.

"She's a famous lady that has a low voice for singing," she said.

Witherlea School choir teacher Jacinta Nott said the pupils had learnt 18 songs and practices started at the beginning of the year. The children had been singing everywhere they went, she said.

Witherlea School pupil Eve Anderson, 7, said it had not been hard learning the words to so many songs and the practising had been fun.

Fellow Witherlea pupil Jakob Wilcox, 7, said he was excited about the concert.

"We're going to be singing all night. We're going to be standing up on a stage and we're going to have lots of fun."

Riverlands School choir teacher Wendy Nurse said the children also had CDs of the songs and had been taking every opportunity to practice.

"I think they have just about driven their parents nuts with the songs and everywhere they go they're singing."

Jacinta said the constant exposure would probably see many of the parents singing along on the night as well and she was sure they probably had their own favourites as well.

"There's a mix of old favourites and some new songs, so there's songs there that grandparents and parents will know as well as the ones for the kids. We've got some Michael Jackson with Heal the World and some show tunes like If I were a Rich Man from Fiddler on the Roof. Somewhere Over the Rainbow and then we've got some Abba and some classic jazz."

Wendy said Riverlands School would be holding a skate day next week to raise money for the Nelson Marlborough rescue helicopter and World Vision. Pupils will come in mufti and bring skateboards, bikes and scooters to school and take part in wheel events, she said. The day was being organised by the school's year 7 and 8 house leaders.

World Vision school relationship co-ordinator Chris Davies had visited Riverlands and the children were taking good interest in the World Vision cause, she said.

The Witherlea pupils also had a good understanding of the charity focus for the concert. The school has a World Vision sponsor child in India, which it sponsors through a weekly sausage sizzle, Jacinta said.

The World Vision Kids for Kids concerts will be held at the Marlborough Floor Pride Civic Theatre, in Blenheim, from 7.30pm, June 26 to 28.

Tickets – adults $22, students and children $16 - are available from the theatre on Arthur St, Blenheim.

Kids for Kids `Top of the World', Suzanna Prentice leads our school choirs in concert at Floorpride Civic Theatre.'

Tuesday, June 26, 7.30pm, Renwick, Witherlea, Springlands and Tua Marina School.

Wednesday, June 27, Queen Charlotte College, Spring Creek, Blenheim, Linkwater, Waikawa Bay, Picton, Richmond View and Rapaura School.

Thursday, June 28, Whitney Street, Riverlands, Rai Valley, Grovetown, St Mary's, Canvastown, Bohally, Marlborough Home schoolers and Redwoodtown School.

 

- The Marlborough Express