Communities of all faiths have attended a festive concert that united religious and cultural backgrounds from North Yorkshire in one venue.
The Christmas Cracker spectacle, organised by our service children’s champion, Angela Campbell, not only celebrated musical performances and talent, but brought families of different backgrounds together for a “delightful” musical evening experience.
Held at The Garden Rooms at Tennants in Leyburn, the event saw a vibrant mix of children from military, civilian, and rural communities, enriched by contributions from Nepalese and Ukrainian groups, and highlighted how music can transcend boundaries and foster harmony.
Along with hundreds of members of the community, civic dignitaries and special guests in the audience included the county’s senior military representatives.
Also present was Armed Forces champion, Cllr Kevin Foster, who served as a reservist in the military for 30 years. Cllr Foster gave £500 from his locality budget in support of the concert.
Each of our 90 members has a budget of £5,000 each year to respond to local needs by allocating small amounts of funding to support activities to promote social, economic, or environmental well-being in the communities which they represent.
Funding can be used for projects or undertaken by external organisations or for additional services provided by the council. Each member is responsible for determining how they wish to seek approval to promote and use the money from their locality budget.
Cllr Foster said: “It was an enjoyable concert appreciated by dozens of families who had attended. It demonstrated the inclusive spirit of the season and the community’s commitment to unity. A huge thanks and praise to the performers, especially young members of the Service Children’s Community Choir, for the tremendous singing.”
Among the songs performed at the concert were traditional carols and contemporary festive pieces, along with traditional music by the Ukrainian string quartet, Sophia Strings, and a live band from BlueBoxt Creative and Performing Arts, a volunteer‑run charity based in Wensleydale which is dedicated to providing opportunities for people of all ages to take part in creative and performing arts activities.
Schools represented at the concert included Carnagill Primary School and Le Cateau Primary School in Catterick Garrison and Richmond School and Sixth Form College in Richmond.
Angela, said: “The concert was delightful. It was enjoyed by all who attended. It was organised to spread festive cheer and positivity, and it did just that!
“The happy faces on the stage and the varied performances highlighted North Yorkshire as a welcoming county that celebrates people of different faiths and beliefs.”