A NOISY NATIVITY!
The magic of Christmas came to Portsmouth on Wednesday (4 Dec) when primary-aged children from across the city came together for Portsmouth Music Hub's Special Christmas Concert; but it wasn't a quiet affair.
To celebrate the festive season children performed a production of the Noisy Nativity. This musical adaptation of the traditional story included all the familiar characters, with Mary and Joseph, the Angel Gabriel and the wise men making an appearance, but the Noisy Nativity also included bumpy camels, knocking on doors, a deafening donkey, excited sheep, chattering shepherds and of course a famous crying baby. For all the teachers, parents and guests the Schools Special Christmas Concert was most definitely not a 'silent night'.
Jane Smith, aged 6, from Cottage Grove Primary School, said after the concert: "Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I loved being part of the Noisy Nativity. I loved the costumes and the singing, I loved all the noisy animals, and it was amazing to have a band playing when we sang."
The children from Cliffdale Primary Academy, College Park Infant School, Corpus Christi Primary School, Cottage Grove Primary School, Mary Rose Academy, Northern Parade Infant School
St. Paul's Primary School were joined by members of the Citadel Salvation Army Band. The musicians gave up their time to perform Christmas favourites including Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
The Music Hub's Christmas Concert has been running for the past 16 years, giving children from mainstream and special schools the opportunity to work together and share their passion for music, dancing, drama and Christmas!
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "It really is impossible not to enjoy the special Christmas Concert, everyone leaves the Cathedral with a smile on their face. This concert is an annual highlight for everyone involved, and it's heart-warming to see so many children with many different needs and backgrounds coming together to perform, to celebrate and sing their hearts out. Children don't see barriers, they don't make judgements, and the purity of their joy and enthusiasm, working together, having fun together and being inspired by music, lies at the heart of everything we do at the Hub. The Schools Special Christmas Concert is Christmas, all wrapped up."