The Perse’s Big Sing returns with ‘Seasons and Charms’

Last week, Year 7 and Year 8 Voices joined forces with Prep school and primary school pupils from around Cambridgeshire in The Big Sing 2026, featuring Jonathan Dove’s song cycle Seasons and Charms.

The event marks The Perse School’s fourth Big Sing, and after the success of previous years’ performances of Orff’s Carmina Burana, Bob Chilcott’s The Voyage and selections from Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.

We were delighted to welcome long-time collaborators, the Bellbird Primary School in Sawston and Teversham Primary School. Over 250 performers rehearsed and performed songs by the British composer Jonathan Dove.

Primary and Prep pupils created evocative artwork, short stories and plays in response to the songs, and while the artwork was displayed during each song, drama students in Year 11 and the Lower Sixth brought a handful of the short stories and plays to vivid life.

The visiting Year 5 pupils were treated to standalone performances by the 70 members of our Year 7 and Year 8 Voices, including one song accompanied by British Sign Language (BSL).  

“Our annual Big Sings are always a joyous occasion, a chance to sing en masse for the simple love of it. Jonathan Dove’s wonderful song cycle clearly inspired our young singers, and the artwork and creative writing which accompanied the performances of the songs themselves created a truly multimedia event,”  said Director of Music, Ben Wingfield.

“Our aim with each Big Sing is to prove to everyone involved that, whether or not they believe themselves to be ‘singers’, they are just that; they wield immense vocal might when combined in such numbers. Our hope is that our young participants leave the auditorium feeling empowered and invigorated through their music-making.”