The hardest working choir in the North

The award-winning Mundo Afrika world music choir based at Formby High School has been described as the hardest working choir in the north.

Over the past 18 years, the music department has trained six generations of young performers from across the school as part of their extra-curricular music programme.

The current generation have surpassed all previous incarnations and gained a nationally renowned reputation.

These talented and exciting young performers are outstanding ambassadors, not only for the school, but for the value and importance of music education at a time when the arts are under scrutiny.

Mundo Afrika are equally at home rehearsing at school, wowing the crowds at a major national festival, working with primary school children or even leading a training sessions for teachers!

National recognition has taken them all around the country to perform at a range of events including the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham, the Educate Awards at Liverpool Cathedral, Music for Youth Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall, in front of 5,000 people, the UK Choir Festival in St Albans and the SSAT National Conference in Manchester.

Specialising in acappella African vocals, performances are enhanced with dynamic percussion and traditional dance. Many of their musical arrangements are created by the students themselves.

Steve Cook, senior assistant headteacher and musical director of the choir, said: “I am always incredibly proud of the Mundo performers. They deliver stunning performances every time, regardless of the venue or occasion. Whilst essentially a world music choir, they diverse and adapt into pop, soul, gospel and urban styles easily and revel in new challenges.

“They are fantastic ambassadors for the power of music and creativity in school.”