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A day to remember: Secondary Singing Day success.
By Mat Wright MBE, Artistic Director of Barnsley Youth Choir:
It was a real pleasure to be part of such a memorable and inspiring Secondary Singing Day on 19 April 2026, bringing together around 70 young people for a full day of music-making, collaboration and high-quality performance. Thanks to funding from the Great Childhoods Ambition, we were able to offer young people an exceptional musical experience led by inspiring professionals.
The day was led by an outstanding team of local vocal leaders – Luke Mather, Tom Masters and Gorgey Bennett from Barnsley Youth Choir – whose commitment, expertise and encouragement created a positive and purposeful atmosphere from the very start. Alongside them, we were fortunate to work with two exceptional external specialists who added something truly special to the experience.
One of the highlights of the day was welcoming Olivia Tait, widely regarded as one of the finest young choral conductors in the country. Olivia travelled up from London from the world‑famous choral organisation The Sixteen, and led several sessions with the young people throughout the day. Her musical insight, energy and ability to connect with the singers was exceptional. We are hugely grateful to The Sixteen for supporting the costs that made Olivia’s involvement possible.
We were also thrilled to be joined by Carla Jane, an international gospel recording artist who travelled from Manchester to work with the group. Carla brought an incredible sense of passion, joy and inspiration, making a huge impact on the young people and adding a powerful and uplifting dynamic to the day.
The atmosphere throughout was fantastic. The young people worked incredibly hard, supported each other and made remarkable progress in a short space of time. The standard of singing was very high, and the final performance at the end of the day was a real highlight. It was wonderful to see how proud the singers felt, and parents were full of praise, commenting on the progress made and how impressive the performance was.
Days like this really showcase the potential of young people and the power of music to build confidence, aspiration and a sense of belonging. It was a privilege to be involved in such a special event, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped make it possible, in particular Barnsley Council and The Great Childhoods Ambition initiative that is making such a difference in the town.