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Pupils and adults sing for best audience reaction

Chloe Harcombe & Georgia Stone
BBC News, Somerset
BBC A group of school girls with their music teacher. All the girls are dressed in burgundy school uniforms. They are holding props for their performance, including two red umbrellas and a metal wheel trim. Their teacher Siobhan is standing at the back of the group. She has long blonde hair and is wearing black. They are all looking at the camera and smilingBBC
The choir group from Wedmore First School with their teacher Siobhan Johnson

School choirs and adult singing groups are going head to head to compete for the biggest crowd reaction.

The Clash of the Choirs returns for its ninth year in Wedmore, Somerset, on Saturday.

Each choir performs three songs and is judged by a clap-o-meter, which records the volume of applause from the audience.

About 300 people are expected to attend St Mary's Church in the village to watch children from Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School and Wedmore First School battle against adult choir groups.

Siobhan Johnson, who teaches music at both schools, said: "It's just so nice to get them all together to have a good old-fashioned sing-song."

Since the schools first competed last year, Ms Johnson said the children have been eager to participate again.

Elisabeth. She has dark hair which is tied back and is wearing a white collared shirt, a burgundy cardigan and a burgundy, green and yellow striped tie. She is looking directly at the camera and smiling.
Elisabeth is part of the Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School choir

Elisabeth, a 10-year-old from Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School, said she enjoys performing and watching the other choirs.

"Singing makes me feel better about myself and that I can be good at something," she said.

"It doesn't matter if you don't do well, you just want to have fun with it."

Xanthe. She has long dark hair and is wearing a white collared shirt with a burgundy cardigan and a burgundy, green and yellow striped tie. She is looking directly at the camera and smiling
Xanthe has been involved with performing arts from a young age

Xanthe, 12, also from the school, said it is her second time participating and she thinks her choir will do "quite well".

"It just makes me so fulfilled and happy to sing," she said.

"It's what I've been doing since I was like three."

Violet. She has long red hair and blue eyes. She is wearing a white collared shirt with a burgundy cardigan and burgundy and white striped tie. She is looking directly at the camera and smiling.
Violet thinks her choir will get the loudest reaction from the crowd

Violet, eight, from Wedmore First School, said she thinks her choir will get the best reaction.

"I feel really proud of myself because I get to do all of these cool solos," she said.

"We're the youngest and we're the cutest, so we're obviously going to get the most claps."

Clash of the Choirs takes place at 18:00 GMT on Saturday.

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