By Saul Cooke-Black

BUSSAGE Primary School choir wowed the judges at Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts and brought back the silverware.

The 46 strong choir, made up of boys and girls from year three, four, five and six, triumphed in the mixed choir for age 11 and under category to clinch the John Howell Cup.

They impressed the judges and many friends and family watching in the audience with their set-piece `Rocking in Rhythm`, and a song of their own choice, `Ho Hey`, by Canadian band The Lumineers.

Mrs Zoe White, Deputy Head who leads the choir with Mrs Katherine Lewen, said: "It was lovely to come back to the school with some silverware.

"The children were absolutely ecstatic, really delighted.

"It's a huge competition and to perform in the main hall on that huge stage was very daunting.

"They did so well, especially as the song we had chosen (Ho Hey) is a really tricky piece."

It is the second year running that the choir from the Church of England Primary School entered the competition but the first time they were successful in winning a trophy.

Judges said the first piece was a, "Full voiced opening with a broken tone and excellent words."

They said it was a "Very disciplined and well prepared performance, impressive in such a young choir."

Likewise they said the second piece was "Very well-disciplined and rhythmic singing."