Vocalize have performed at the MFY Prom every year for almost 10 years.
Back in January, talented Year 11 students from Sedgehill Academy came together to create the Rap Collective, mentored by Sedgehill Musician in Residence, Andy Gilbert.
After successfully performing for the Music For Youth judging committee, the Girls’ Rap Collective, made up of, Ivie Agharia, Isabelle Traore and Charlotte Davies were selected to perform at the 2022 Music For Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in November.
The girls performed an afro-drill track they wrote themselves called “Rax”, followed by their own adaptation of “Jesus Walks” by Kanye West, which opens with the backing them of a live orchestra. Jesus Walks was also performed by Year 13 sttudents Tracey Tran, Byron John, Fahzell Linton and Teegan Litchmore.
I’m really excited but, also quite nervous about performing in front of 5000 people at the Proms. Last year we were on stage with the rest of Vocalize, but this year it’s just the three of us. Performing our own track on stage is a brilliant opportunity for us to really express ourselves.
Isabelle Traore before the show
On the night we’re performing a track that we wrote ourselves when we first came together as a Collective and started working out how our individual styles complement each other. I’m so excited about being able to perform in front of so many fellow young musicians and to show them what we can do. In “Jesus Walks” we’ve adapted the chorus to add our own style of rap.
Ivie Agharia
Last year Charlotte Davies opened the show with a spoken word piece performed with backing singers, before also co-presenting:
The lyrics in Rax talk about the struggles that Black people face in everyday society, issues of hatred and our lived experience of being Black which I feel is a really strong message. I’m looking forward to being able to perform it in front of so many other young people.
Vocalize have performed at the MFY Prom every year for almost 10 years and were the only community school choir chosen to perform.
If that wasn't exciting enough. Sky TV kids show FYI sent a presenter to cover the Proms and made short film about Ivie, Charlotte and Isabelle. Watch it here!