HUNDREDS of young voices came together in unison – thanks to a new initiative from the Dorset Music Service.

Pupils from eight primary schools got together after Christchurch Infants headteacher Jane Ashenden secured funding from the service’s new Singing Strategy.

Groups from each school performed their own songs before they all sang a community song they had been rehearsing separately.

The event was held at Christchurch Infants School and Mrs Ashenden hopes it will become an annual event.

“Each school sent a class or a choir and they all took their turn to perform. “It was lovely because they listened so well to each other and performed really brilliantly,” she said.

Youngsters between the ages of five and 11 took part in the event, organised by singing coach Jenny Deacon and Christchurch Junior music teacher Rebecca Ellis.

Dorset Music Service is the main provider of musical tuition in schools in the Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset local authority areas.

Its Singing Strategy funds pyramids or clusters of schools to work together to take singing in schools to the next level.

It aims to raise the profile of singing in schools, develop confidence in the children and highlight the cultural significance of singing.

The schools taking part in the event were Christchurch Infants, Christchurch Junior, Burton Primary, Somerford, Highcliffe St Mark’s, Mudeford Infants, Mudeford Junior and The Priory.