Musical extravaganza at the Model

The hall was filled with many parents, grand-parents and friends who had come to enjoy the music. In addition to the Chairman and his wife Mr Len and Mrs Margaret Snodgrass, and members of the Board of Governors, Mr Ian and Mrs Phyllis Hasson from the Rock Ministries (NI]Trust were the invited guests.

Before the concert began individual instrumentalists entertained the audience with seasonal melodies. The children who played the various instruments were: Anna Allen, Charlotte Boyd and Claire Williamson (Violin], Ross Fallows, Jonathan Waide and Ruth Carson (Clarinet], Ellen Kearney, Joshua Henry and Stuart McHugh (Flute] and Grace Carson (Tenor Horn].

After the principal, Mr George McVeigh had welcomed everyone to the concert and had asked everyone to remain seated when they sang the carols, the concert began with the orchestra playing two Christmas Carols, "O Come all Ye Faithful," and "We Three kings."

Having sung "See Him Lying in a Bed of Straw," the audience then enjoyed the school choir deliver their rendition of "All Over the World," and "As we wait for Christmas." Beforehand Mr McVeigh had informed the audience that the choir had had a particularly busy week, having taken part in the "Young Voices Concert," in the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Tuesday evening. He explained that there, they had joined with thousands of other children and their parents from all over Northern Ireland to celebrate Christmas.

Before the next presentation by the five key Stage II Classes the audience sang the carol "As with Gladness Men of Old." This Christmas presentation by the Key Stage II children was an extremely enjoyable musical experience with many of the children singing solo items as well as massed choirs.

When the performance had finished Mr McVeigh invited Mr and Mrs Hasson from the rock Ministries Trust to speak to the audience. They told everyone present how grateful they were of all the support their work in Africa was receiving and how welcome the choir was made feel during all their visits to Northern Ireland since September. Mr McVeigh then handed over a cheque from proceeds of the morning's concert.

The audience was informed that Mr Snodgrass was retiring from the Board of Governors and that this was probably his last visit to the school as Chairman. Mr McVeigh thanked him for his service as a Governor since March 1998 and especially as Chairman since October 2005. Mr McVeigh said that his contribution to the school would be recognised formally at a later date.

Mr McVeigh then thanked the teaching and non-teaching staff for all the work they had done in preparing the children for their performances and Mrs Carson who had prepared the choir and orchestra. He thanked the parents and friends for coming to support the children and last but not least the children who had worked so hard to produce such a superb and enjoyable concert.

The concert concluded with all the Key Stage II children singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."