BRIT Award Winners BLAKE’s nationwide search for local choirs to join them as part of their Autumn tour was such a success that the classical foursome have decided to extend the search for their 2011 tour.

Showstopperz will be joining Blake on stage at Strathpeffer Pavilion on Wednesday 3rd August to perform some of the group’s well known classic-pop renditions, including ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Nessun Dorma’ – songs that helped catapult the group to global success after their formation using Facebook in 2007.

Showstopperz is the Highlands’ premier junior production company, with singers and dancers aged 8-18 performing regular shows in venues around Inverness.  Students are encouraged to develop their skills with a view to performing as a solo artist, and experience a multitude of genres including classical, musical theatre and pop music.

Musical Director Reno Troilus said, “We are absolutely delighted to be chosen to appear alongside Blake. The kids have been buzzing with excitement at the thought of performing with internationally acclaimed artists, and all await the event with eager anticipation.”

The classical foursome came up with the idea of having a local choir joining them on stage after they toured schools across the country giving performances and talks about the music industry.

“The schools tour was part of the ‘campaign’ for our 2^nd Brit nomination, but it quickly became so much more than that to us. The kids really engaged with what we did and we were blown away by the talent and confidence of some of them in the mock ‘X-Factor’ auditions that we held.  With all that singing talent, we just couldn’t understand why choirs weren’t as popular as they used to be” explains baritone Jules Knight.

The four members of Blake all found their love of music at a young age and sang with various groups and choirs throughout their childhood. Their passion for music continues to grow and they wanted to share this with the communities they would be visiting on their tour. “We thought about how we could involve school choirs and local community choirs in our live shows, and that getting some of the choirs up on stage with us would be a great experience for both them and us” added Tenor Oliver Baines.

The show in Strathpeffer is part of Blake’s UK Tour ‘An Evening with Blake’.  In addition to performing songs from their debut album and ‘And So It Goes’, their second CD, this show features new songs from their latest album, ‘Together’, which shot straight into the Top 5 of the UK classical charts, was No.1 in Australia, No.1 in South Africa and was nominated for a Classical BRIT Award for Album of the Year.

‘An Evening With Blake’ Summer tour began on June 3rd.  Blake, supported by Showstopperz, are due to perform at Strathpeffer Pavilion on Wednesday 3rd August at 8 pm.  Tickets £28 (conc. £27) are available from www.thebooth.co.uk, www.ticketweb.co.uk, Ticketweb’s 24-hour hotline 08444 771000, June’s Card Shop Dingwall and Strathpeffer Pavilion 01997 420124.

Source: Strathpeffer Pavilion