THE senior choir of Mount Kelly sung their hearts out to come joint third in the national final of the annual Barnardo’s National Choral Competition at London’s Royal Festival Hall —beating dozens of other schools who entered the contest.

A total of 25 school choirs from more than 100 school entries were shortlisted to compete in the fundraising event on Monday, March 12 which will help transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

They performed two songs to the judging panel, which consisted of conductor and composer Douglas Coombes MBE, organist Trevor Hughes, musicians Jay Deeble and Carole Lindsay-Douglas and festival director of the World’s Largest Male Choir Festival, Rob T Elliot.

The choirs then chose one song to sing before an audience at a concert later that evening, before the winners were announced. For the third year running Lindley Junior School choir, from Huddersfield, took the under 12s category and Downe House Senior Choir, from Thatcham were winners of the under 18s category.

The £37,000 raised for Barnardo’s will go towards supporting 272,000 vulnerable children, young people, parents and carers across the UK.

Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan said: ‘This was a wonderful evening of music performed by some talented young Barnardo’s supporters. Congratulations to the winning schools and well done to everyone who competed.

‘We are so grateful for all of the hard work they put into their rehearsals – it certainly paid off and raised an incredible amount of money too.

‘Fantastic fund-raising events like this help Barnardo’s to continue its vital work delivering more than 1,000 services to help transform the lives of vulnerable children around the UK.’

Barnardo’s events manager, Jen Privett added: ‘We’ve been blown away by the standard of the performances throughout the competition.

‘Each child put their heart and soul into every single performance and should be very proud of what they have achieved.’