Community choir singers turn faces to the sky ahead of big performance

Atomix Educational Trust, which runs Prior Pursglove and Stockton Sixth Form colleges as well as Errington Primary School in Marske and Bishopton Pupil Referral Unit, has launched ‘With Our Faces to the Sky’.

The community choir project, which also involves other primary schools in Marske including St Bede’s and New Marske Primary, is actively rehearsing ahead of a big performance at Stockton Globe in May 2026.

The project is the brainchild of Noel Dennis, director of business development at Atomix, who is following in the footsteps of his late father Kel Dennis, a music teacher and music co-ordinator, by encouraging musicians and singers in the local community to come together.  

The musicians involved include Pete Churchill, a professor of jazz studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and his daughter Imogen Churchill, a jazz singer songwriter.

Noel, who is also an accomplished jazz musician, said: “One of the things I really want to bring to the Trust is music and the choir project is a way of bringing music to our local communities.

“In this way, I can carry on some of the work that my Dad did in the Eston area, where he put a samba band in every school – something which culminated in a performance at the Riverside Stadium.

“The idea with the singing project is to bring a number of schools together and teach them some songs alongside a band from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and music students from Prior Pursglove College.”

This will culminate in a live performance at a fantastic event at Stockton Globe in the Spring, which Noel says everyone involved is “very much looking forward to”.

Noel added the idea was also to empower primary school music teachers in the area and show them what is possible when the community comes together.

Pete described the voice as “the musical instrument everybody has” and said students learn tolerance and empathy when they come together to sing, as well as vital employability skills. 

“There’s more of a need now, given where we are in the world, for music to be used as a healing force, breaking down barriers,” Pete said.

“You can see kids come alive when they are involved in projects like this.

“I remember I was floundering at Primary School when the Royal Academy of Music came to visit and I discovered music was a language I understood.

“I strongly believe kids should have opportunities like this – it empowers them and makes them realise it’s okay to think differently from the system you are in.”

Imogen, who is known as Immy, described it as “super exciting” to be involved in ‘With Our Faces to the Sky’, involving so many young people. 

“We had such a wonderful rehearsal day in November, teaching three new songs in a matter of hours!” she said.  

“The students made an incredible sound and I can’t wait to hear how it develops ready for our May performance at The Globe. 

“The team is just wonderful to work with and myself, my dad Pete Churchill and multi-instrumentalist Jonah Evans are all totally thrilled to be making music with the students – it’s such a privilege and is the start of something incredibly important.”

Dr Nichole Munro, CEO of Atomix Educational Trust, said: “As a Trust, it is our ambition to be at the heart of every community we serve – and what better way is there to engage local people than bringing them together to make music?

“The feedback we have received about this choir project has been phenomenal – we are truly empowering young people and their teachers, making them aware of the benefits of bringing music into the curriculum and demonstrating what is possible in this field.

“The benefits to the young people also go far beyond singing and playing an instrument, as they learn self-confidence, teamwork and many other soft skills linked to employability.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing where we as a trust can take this project, alongside the esteemed musicians we are grateful to have involved, and I can’t wait to witness the young people involved in their element at the forthcoming performance at Stockton Globe.”