PARENTS were treated to the joy of singing as schools across Dorchester came together for two annual concerts.

Every first school in the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership (DASP) came together to perform in the concerts, with year four children singing in them.

The concerts were on the theme of peace and friendship and took place over two nights, with half of the schools performing on the first night and the other half on the second night.

Each school sang their own song as well as taking prat in five whole school songs.

These were Peace Child, Dona Nobis, Keep You In Peace, Can You Feel the Love Tonight and Lean on Me.

The musical director for the event was Hannah Trevorrow who leads DASP Music, the event was compered by Bob Duffin, headteacher at Cheslbourne Village School with Anne Newlin from Damers First School providing accompaniment.

All the schools were supported by and have been rehearsing with their own music coordinators.

Mr Duffin said: “It was brilliant, really good.

“The two nights were both packed with people standing in the aisles.

“There’s about 15 first schools in DASP. We had half of them on the Wednesday and the other half on the Thursday. They all sang their own piece then we sang five songs as a big group, that was about 200 to 250 children.”

Mr Duffin praised the quality of the singing from the children.

He said: “The singing was fantastic.

“The quality of the singing was really good. We’re so lucky to have such an excellent DASP Music.

“The children enjoyed it, which is the main thing. It got a lot of important messages across.

“It’s important involving them in a big group and that’s really important. That’s fantastic for them.”

Mr Duffin also thanked the parents who came along to support the event and all the staff that made it possible.

DASP Music is a charity which aims to enhance the musical education of young people.