Following
on from choir's hugely successfully UK tour in 2003, the Milton
Margai School for the Blind set out on their second UK tour in
July 2007. The theme of the tour was the “freedom tour”
to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the
slave trade.
The choir comprised of 30 blind students
from the school. Their opening concert of the tour was in Canterbury
Cathedral.
Within the first week of the tour, the
choir had performed in Regent’s Park, Reading and Hastings.
During the Reading concert they shared the stage with the Reading
All Steel Percussion Orchestra which has led to the exciting prospect
of a visit by orchestra the to Sierra Leone next year.
The second week of the tour took them back
to Wales reviving happy memories of their concerts there during
the 2003 tour.
As part of the 200th anniversary of
the abolition of the slave trade, the choir visited the
Houses of Parliament as guests of William Hague, MP, where the
children took part in the anti-slavery debates. They also visited
Hull, birthplace of William Wilberforce, during the final week
to take part in some of the anniversary events there. As well
as performing in the church where Wilberforce was baptised, the
choir were invited to sing at the KC Stadium in front of 15,000
rugby league fans.
The final concert of the tour was held
at Westminster Central Hall in front of 2,000 very enthusiastic
people. As at every other venue, the audience was astounded at
not only the vibrant and melodious singing but also the animated
and choreographed dancing. It was a memorable finale to the tour.
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