ELAN Music Festival makes a spectacular debut at the Winter Gardens

The first-ever ELAN Music Festival brought together more than 200 young singers from across all nine Extend Learning Academies Network (ELAN) schools for a truly unforgettable celebration of music and community at the iconic Winter Gardens in Weston-super-Mare.

Held near the end of the school year, the festival showcased the incredible singing abilities of children from throughout the ELAN family of schools, with performances spanning a variety of songs and styles. The young singers were accompanied by fabulous members of the Worlewind Band, whose support helped create a professional and uplifting concert experience.

One of the most powerful moments of the evening came when all 200-plus children joined together on stage to perform as a single chorus. Their collective voices filled the venue, creating a moving and memorable highlight that captured the spirit of collaboration and belonging at the heart of ELAN.

The festival was attended by a packed audience that included VIP guests, school leaders, staff and hundreds of proud family members, all there to celebrate the achievements of the young performers.

The event concluded with inspiring closing remarks from ELAN Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adam Mathews and Deputy Mayor Caroline Reynolds, whose words reflected the pride and excitement felt throughout the venue.

The success of this inaugural event marks the beginning of what hopes to become a cherished annual tradition, celebrating the talent, creativity and confidence of children across the ELAN community.

Windwhistle’s Caroline Madeley had a dream of bringing children from all nine ELAN schools together for an unforgettable evening of music, and thanks to her vision, that dream became a reality. A huge thank you also goes to our team of dedicated music leads and the wider ELAN team, whose passion, commitment and hard work made this incredible event possible. From rehearsals and planning to the final performance, their efforts ensured that more than 200 children could come together on one stage, united through the joy of music.