Group of cajon drummers from Walker Primary School kicked off the ‘Music for Youth Proms’ event at the iconic venue

Children from Walker School outside Royal Albert Hall

Children from a Southgate primary school were selected from hundreds of acts around the country to perform at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

The Walker Box Beaters, a group of cajon drummers from Walker Primary School in Waterfall Road, kicked off the ‘Music for Youth Proms’ event at the iconic venue, which was the culmination of a year-long programme of concerts and performances held across the country.

The children, aged between ten and twelve, were chosen to perform after impressing at the Music for Youth regional festival and then again at the national festival in Birmingham.

They joined 19 other acts from across the UK to take part in the two-day proms, which showcases the brilliance of young musicians and featured the BBC Ten Pieces.

The cajon drum is an instrument developed by African slaves in Peru from wooden shipping crates when their traditional drums were prohibited. The Walker Box Beaters play rhythms that reflect the African heritage of the cajon, as well as their own unique ideas.

Robin Lurie, music lead at Walker Primary School, who runs the group, said: “The Music for Youth Proms gave the children a unique opportunity to perform on one of the most famous stages in the world. The atmosphere at the event was electric and the Walker Box Beaters set the mood for the evening with a vibrant performance which energised the crowd.”

“The children were up on that stage alone. They didn’t have a teacher leading them and they performed with confidence and sheer joy. At Walker we encourage children to develop a growth mindset approach to learning and life, and the children embraced this at the proms. Their hard work, determination and commitment to coming to rehearsals, practising at home and supporting each other culminated in an amazing performance which they will never forget.”

Other acts that performed on the night included a gospel choir, jazz band, rap group and string quartet.

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