Northstowe Learning Community brought this year’s Meridian Trust Arts Festival to a powerful close last night with a special finale event in partnership with Northstowe Chorus, the town’s inclusive community choir.
Held at the school’s performing arts hall on Wednesday 9 July, the finale was a celebration of creativity, collaboration and community spirit.
The event marked a proud moment for the school, highlighting the strong ties between Northstowe Learning Community and the wider town. The collaboration with Northstowe Chorus reflected the school’s ongoing commitment to strengthening these connections through shared cultural experiences.
Across the festival, more than 8,000 people have watched the festival’s events on YouTube, making this year’s festival one of the most far-reaching to date.
These included a series of professionally filmed hub events – large-scale, multi-school performances hosted at key venues across the Trust, featuring music, dance, drama and visual arts. Each hub event brought together pupils from multiple schools to collaborate on themed performances, showcasing their creativity and teamwork.
Audrey Caldwell, Director of Arts at Meridian Trust, said: “The Meridian Trust Arts Festival has always been about more than just performance — it’s about celebrating creativity, building connections, and sharing joy. This year’s collaboration with Northstowe Chorus reflects our belief in the power of the arts to unite schools and communities.”
Ben Mulholland, Curriculum Leader of Music for Secondary at Meridian Trust, added: “Nothing brings people together like music. The joy of playing an instrument or singing with other people is an experience that can’t be replicated in other ways. Being able to bring together such a multitude of students from across the Trust to perform live as part of the Meridian Trust Choir and Jazz Orchestra not only results in a huge sense of achievement, but also creates connections and experiences that will last long after the final note is played.”
Ava-Rose, Year 7 at The Ferrers School, shared her excitement: “I have especially loved watching everyone else perform. This is my first time doing anything like this, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing all the talent across the other schools.”
For Kyla, Year 12 at Sharnbrook Academy, the day held special meaning: “This has been a very special day for me because it could be one of my last dances outside of school, as I’ll be leaving next year. It’s been great spending time with my friends and doing what I love – dance.”
Julia Kemp, Curriculum Area Lead for Music at Nene Park Academy, is a member of the Meridian Trust Choir: “Being part of the Meridian Trust Choir this year has been an amazing experience. Audrey’s direction is truly inspiring. It’s a joy to watch her work, and I’ve learned so much from her. Singing alongside older students has been a real privilege; hearing how their voices have matured and grown richer throughout the year has been wonderful. It’s been a truly inspirational experience.”
The Meridian Trust Arts Festival brings together 30 schools from across the Trust – including several Cambridge-based schools – to celebrate creativity, confidence and self-expression.
The finale featured everything from original funk-jazz by Mulholland Jive and folk collaborations with Megson, to musical theatre, dance, and choral performances from across the Trust’s secondary schools.
