New Saturday Vigil Mass Singers

March saw the first singing of the Saturday Vigil Mass by children from the Westminster Schools’ Singing Programme, an offshoot of the National Programme (NSSP) which has been created for all Catholic dioceses in the UK to create or enhance their own music programmes for children educated in Catholic state schools. It has £2.325 million available to seed fund singing programmes for young people. This funding can be used to create independent, financially sustainable projects through the network of diocesan schools and directly benefit children and support the most poor, vulnerable and disenfranchised members of our society, who have often been an afterthought for choral and church music. Weekly sessions take place during the normal school day and are tailored to suit each class and year group. They include music for school liturgies blended with interactive music education games and secular repertoire. The foundation of the Schools Singing Programme rests on a network of afterschool choirs that support parish and cathedral liturgies. As well as enhancing the in-school experience of musical education, the programme engages the wider community with concerts and performances that all can enjoy.