TV choirmaster Gareth Malone will lead 3,000 singing schoolchildren in an "epic celebration like no other" at this year’s Royal Norfolk Show.
The Grand Sing will be among the unique musical performances taking centre stage at this summer's county showcase - an event which will also embrace key community themes from the coronation.
Schools from across the county have been invited to sing in the Grand Ring on June 28, including a special version of "Flourish Song – We are Norfolk", which was composed by the county's young people.
It is the result of a partnership between the Norfolk Music Hub, the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA), Charanga, Big Sky Creative - and it will be led by Gareth Malone at 12.20pm.
The popular musician - who studied at the UEA - has helped revitalise Britain's choral scene through his TV shows and concert tours, with recent high-profile projects including conducting a 300-strong choir at last weekend's Coronation Concert.
Alison Brain, head of Norfolk Music Service, the lead organisation in the Norfolk Music Hub partnership, said: "The Grand Sing is an opportunity that we have been working with the RNAA to put together for a number of years due to Gareth Malone’s local connections, and I am beyond delighted that we have been able to secure this opportunity for our young people at this year’s show."
Meanwhile, the second day of the show, June 29, will feature a world record attempt by 3,000 young people aiming to form the largest-ever percussion ensemble using recyclable materials.
Norfolk Music Hub will be helping schoolchildren perform a newly-commissioned rhythmical work named "Bucket Beats XL" - using instruments they have designed and made themselves.
The piece was written for buckets and junk percussion by Tim Brain of Louder Than Life, who described the performance as "an incredible opportunity for young people across Norfolk to share the power of music and work together towards a common goal through the record attempt".
Mark Nicholas, managing director of the RNAA, said the show team is "delighted" to work with the Norfolk Music Hub to "enable inspirational opportunities for so many youngsters to take part in the Royal Norfolk Show."
And he said the 2023 summer spectacle aims to "unify the county" once again during the coronation year.
"One of our key themes this year is building on the coronation theme of community cohesion and volunteering, and we have got some massive events taking place," he said.
"The Grand Sing with Gareth Malone and Bucket Beats XL will both bring about 3,000 people together to perform in the Grand Ring, which is bigger than anything that has been attempted in the past.
"The Community Champions Tribute is also harking back to the theme of the coronation to get organsations, charities and clubs to nominate their community champions to be celebrated in the Grand Ring.
"So, just like the coronation, the show is going to unify the county."
Another key theme for the 2023 show is "Looking to the Future" - embodied in the "massive" new STEMM Village aiming to educate and inspire teenagers on how science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine can help address global challenges.
Meanwhile, familiar favourites among the Grand Ring entertainment programme this year include show jumping, carriage driving, the Shetland pony derby, Boldog Lings motorcycle display team and the RAF Falcons parachute display team.
And at the heart of the show's traditional appeal are its livestock and equine competitions, featuring hundreds of horses, sheep, goats, pigs and cattle - including the British Simmental Cattle Society's national show and 30 Horse of the Year Show qualifiers.
Mr Nicholas said: "We try to blend the traditional and the modern, and I think the show achieves that while evolving from year to year."
He added that advance ticket sales were already on a par with last year, when 80,000 visitors flocked to the showground for its comeback event after two years of Covid cancellations.
"The renewal of the show last year has made people hungry to return," he said. "Pre-show ticket sales are looking incredibly positive, and the number of trade stands looks really high indeed."
The Royal Norfolk Show takes place on June 28 and 29. For information and tickets see www.royalnorfolkshow.co.uk.
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