"CBBC Sport Relief does Glee Club"
What fun we had performing in front of the CBBC cameras!
The Music Department was buzzing with excitement after a phone call from the producers of CBBC inviting entries from our school for the "CBBC Sport Relief does Glee Club" auditions in November. We were going to show the cameras that we were not just a farming community driving Ford tractors every day but a school bursting with a range of musical talent ready and waiting to be thrust upon the public stage, and boy did we enjoy it!
From the day the phone call came through to the school we had pupils who were instantly smitten with the thought of performing publicly. Discussions on choice of music, types of dance steps, hair styles and fashion were to be heard all around the music department's practice rooms. Needless to say, not being the "Gok Won" of the teaching staff they knew not to consult me on any of these topics however Miss Carson was on hand to give the girls any advice if it was needed! Dreams of X Factor fame were rampaging through the girls' minds and so they all got down to business.
Two groups of 5 girls (yes boys –girls – you boys must have no desire to be as famous as "One Direction" with a massive following of female fans!! Work that one out for yourselves lads!), one from year 10 and the other from year 12 worked tirelessly at their song and routine for the cameras of CBBC to feast their lenses on. Days of rehearsals during the half term break and after school were taken up with practices and the end product was truly amazing.
Katie Sloan, Emma Clarke (both soloists) teamed up with Shadea Anderson, Rebecca McCullough and Gemma McMaster all from year 10 choosing the song "All about tonight" by Pixie Lott to perform for their audition and they set to work on harmonizing and a "groovy little dance routine to set the whole thing off !
Lauren Currie, Kelsey Williamson (both soloists) teamed up with Hannah McLarnin, Dannielle Shannon and Jodie Crawford all from year 12 and chose the song "I wish I was a punk rocker" by Sandi Thom to perform for their audition and they added excellent harmonies and a very convincing dance routine to complete their entry.
The day came and we all travelled to Belfast with the help of Miss Cummings, Miss Carson and "yours truly" – me - as chauffeurs. The girls were really nervous but very excited as they performed in front of the cameras and the end product was truly amazing. We were all really proud of the Cullybackey girls.
Now we have to wait for a phone call early in December to see if either of the groups will have made it through to the next round when we might be fortunate enough to have to do it all again with a different song and perhaps performing this time across the water.
We all were on a high and went to a local coffee shop for a snack and with the excitement outside the Europa Hotel for the MTV awards we patiently watched for anyone as famous as us to pass by. Unfortunately we weren't that lucky!
We had a great time and look forward to doing something like it again. So keep your fingers crossed for us that at least one of our groups gets through. That only left one more exciting surprise for three of the girls – the journey home with Miss Cummings – boy can she move when she puts her mind to it!!
Mr J. Hall
