Children's Concert Planning Update - Sept 2026

Arrangements are well under way for the CSFC concerts on Monday 9th – Thursday 12^th November 2026. 

To find out click to read on.

Children Singing for Children Concerts

Arrangements are well under way for the C.S.F.C. concerts.

Dates:   Monday 9th – Thursday 12^th November 2026 

Times:       7:00pm to around 8:30 pm

Venue:       St Mary's Church Banbury

Schools:   We have 21 schools signed up – so could accommodate an extra school on each of the Monday to Wednesday but not on the Thursday. Contact John Groves if interested.

Format:   The format will be the “time-tested” one:  Four evening concerts lasting around 90 minutes where each of 5 or 6 schools perform of 2 songs chosen by the school followed by 2 massed choir finale songs.

Music:     Traditionally the school songs were performed to live accompaniment but in recent years this has drifted towards more use of backing tapes.  This year, to encourage more schools to perform to live accompaniment, Tudor Hall music staff have offered to produce piano backing tracks for schools to practise to that will allow them to perform to live piano accompaniment on the night with no fear of surprises!  To enable this to happen schools are encouraged to identify their songs early and let Tudor Hall have copies of the backing music scores as early as possible  in September of the autumn term.  If you are struggling to find music scores, let us know: we may be able to help.

Songs:  We’ll add the song-titles to this page as they become available later in the year.

School Practise Sessions:    These take place on the day of the event starting at 12:30 for school 1.  Timing is necessarily tight!  Each school has 10 minutes total to assemble on-stage and rehearse their songs. This is followed at around 1:30 by practise of the logistics of getting well over 100 children on stage quickly and quietly followed by rehearsal of the 2 massed choir finale songs: ‘Sing’   and 'Children Singing for Children which schools are also expected to have rehearsed prior to these sessions.' Rehearsals will finish by 2:00pm to allow children to get back to their school for the end of the school day.

Tickets:   Tickets will be distributed to schools around the start of October priced £7.  Schools will receive further instructions with their tickets. Some tickets will be available (cash only) from Henry's Menswear (Banbury High St.)   Tickets may be available on the door if not sold-out.

Charities:  Every penny of the surplus monies generated by these concerts will go to support children.  Twenty percent will be retained to help children at the discretion of Banbury Rotary Club. The remaining 80% will be divided between 3 children's charities: Children Heard and Seen mentoring project, Assisted Reading for Children and Alan's Africa school projects.  Last year we distributed almost £7,000 in this manner and altogether the concerts have raised North of £100,000 for children's causes.

Sponsors:   There are significant costs involved in staging these concerts including the hire of the venue, First Aid cover, performing rights charges etc. We welcome offers of sponsorship to help offset these so that more of the income can be distributed to help children.

Next Action:  Schools need to identify their choice of songs early in September and send information to John Groves to enter in the Table below along with the music scores.  ( If you prefer - the music scores can be sent direct to Tudor Hall Music Dept.)

School Schedule: 

Any queries - contact  John Groves