The ICC Birmingham has been selected as the venue for the 12th BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year competition. This highly anticipated annual competition showcases the very best school choirs in the UK as they attempt to win the coveted title.
Lisa Cook, account director for the ICC, agreed the deal for the recording of the competition with the BBC. Described as the highlight of the Songs of Praise calendar, they will record three 45 minute programmes all hosted by Aled Jones in Hall 1 at the ICC. The two semi-finals and the grand final will air on BBC One on consecutive Sundays in spring 2014.
The judging line-up includes the classically trained musician, singer and television presenter Myleene Klass and the internationally renowned choral guru Suzi Digby.
Twelve junior and senior school choirs, who have made it through the preliminary rounds, will go head to head to try to impress the celebrity judges. In the final, the best three junior and best three senior choirs come together to each sing an inspirational song to the audience and judges before one choir from each category wins the trophy and becomes the BBC Songs of Praise School Choir Of The Year 2014.
James Elston, sales director for the ICC, commented: “We are really looking forward to hosting Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year competition and to welcoming the choirs, judges and BBC team to the ICC. Our dedicated event managers and technical teams will work in partnership with them to ensure that this exciting and prestigious event runs smoothly for all involved. We are sure the competition will generate a fantastic buzz around the ICC and are very excited to be a part of it. ”
