International Day of Peace

When Fiona Lander (musician, composer and conductor) saw that Hexham Abbey Festival, 2023, started on September 21st, she contacted the committee to suggest a concert with school children to mark the UN International Day of Peace.

Initially, the committee said no, because they had used all their funding. Fiona sent them a recording of the song she had composed for this day two years ago; that changed their minds. Funding was found from local trusts, businesses and individuals. Hooray!

Fiona worked with children in 7 local schools before the summer break, then again at the beginning of this term. Today they all came to sing together for the first time in the Abbey. Magic.

How I wished I had a long lens and permission to photograph the individual children. Their expressions and movements were wonderful to see. Attention spans varied a great deal and they did not all remember to look up at Fiona!

It was a half hour of sheer pleasure. The children were told that the peace of the future is down to them. That was a big message for ones so young.

At the end the brilliant young organist played some Messiaen. I did not think this was a good choice for the children, but I expect it was because it was composed in 1939 and before the composer was in a prisoner of war camp. It also showed off the brilliance of the musician.