Performing arts students to go online for Black Country Festival celebrations

The virtual festival will take place at 11am on Sunday live on Dudley Performing Arts' YouTube channel.

Teachers have been running virtual rehearsals since June with different instrumental groups, as well as coordinating a mass sing-a-long with children from schools across the Dudley borough.

Performances have been recorded and edited, and will be premiered on Sunday. It will include wind bands, string groups, keyboard players, percussionists and guitarists.

Councillor Ruth Buttery, Dudley Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Dudley Performing Arts staff and students have worked really hard on this festival, they haven’t let lockdown get in the way of learning or having fun.

"Many of our students have continued to access individual and group teaching sessions, and will be performing at the festival this weekend.

"The sneak peak trailer they released featuring staff singing along to ‘Rockin All Over the World’ gave a flavour of what we can expect and I can’t wait to see what our young people come up with during their performances this weekend."

Since the early 1990s, Dudley Performing Arts has held a summer festival that celebrates young people making music.

The event has taken place over the years at venues including Dudley Town Hall, Dudley Castle, Himley Hall and Mary Stevens – but this year, for the first time ever, the entire festival will be held online.