YOUNGSTERS from Blackbird Academy Trust sang their hearts out alongside Oxford’s oldest chamber choir .

About 100 Year Five pupils from Windale, Orchard Meadow and Pegasus primary schools were treated to a musical tour of Oxford by Schola Cantorum – the first time it has run a trip with an Oxford primary in its 55-year history.

During a visit on Mondaythe children were serenaded by about 30 choir members in the Holywell Music Room, the Sheldonian Theatre and finally the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.

Conductor James Burton, who has held the post since 2002, said: “We aimed to try to give something for all of the children. It went so well.

“One of my personal aims is to share music with people, but not necessarily make them want to go into it as a career. Who’s going to be the audience in the future?

“We did a huge variety of songs, but I wanted them to hear proper classical music and then explain to them what’s beautiful about it.”

At the Holywell Music Room the pupils heard a sequence of Shakespeare songs and passages from plays including The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Then at the Sheldonian they enjoyed music written by English composer and organist Orlando Gibbons, written for his doctoral degree in the 1600s.

A riotous African calypso and rendition of The Queen’s College’s Boar’s Head Carol ended a magical evening for all present.

Mr Burton added: “We had time afterwards for a Q&A session as well.

“They asked wonderfully intelligent questions about how to hold a note that long, and having men and women in the choir.

“Maybe they had never heard of a soprano, alto and tenor before but now they can remember what that sounds like.

“I am increasingly aware that culture is under fire from so many quarters and it is so easy to think it’s something that’s not important.

“Choir is not a part of our culture that’s celebrated. All of us in the arts have to explain what we are doing and why we love it.

“But if you can engage with something both intellectually and in your heart, that’s something you can’t get from a maths class.”

Music teacher Clare Chapman, from the Blackbird Academy Trust, said: “It was amazing.They did so well. Classical music is a new sound for them but they did it brilliantly.

“ They loved going into Oxford and being part of something in those amazing buildings.”

Soprano and second-year Oxford University music student Izzy Rose said the children were “completely hooked”, adding: “The looks on their faces were just awesome.

“It should definitely be made a regular thing.”