“Sorry I can’t come to rehearsal tonight- I’m going to meet the King…”
Annabel Larard
We spoke to Wayns Alto 1 Annabel Larard, a former professional opera singer who is now involved in the amazing charity work of Pimlico Opera, the sister company of Grange Park Opera. Read on to find out more and what led to Annabel giving possibly the best excuse ever for missing a rehearsal last year….
So Annabel, when you joined the Waynflete Singers you said that singing had always been a part of your life- can you tell us a bit more about your singing and musical background?
I have loved singing for as long as I can remember. After studying Music at university I went to The Guildhall School of Music in London to study singing. I was then lucky enough to sing professionally for several years with Opera Holland Park, Garsington Opera and Grange Park Opera but a health condition sadly curtailed my singing career.
I used to look after all the press for Grange Park Opera and Pimlico Opera, but I now just do the music press for them and look after the music critics on press nights.
You are chiefly involved now with running the Pimlico Opera charity “Primary Robins”. What is Primary Robins all about?
I started Primary Robins in September 2013, to bring music and singing into the lives of children who have little exposure to it. I designed the songbooks and found the first schools- four schools in Hampshire, with 380 children involved. Today 7000 children at 61 schools in 11 counties have a 30-minute singing class every week of the school year at no cost to the school or parents.
How do you select the schools that are offered the programme?
We decided to look for schools where the Key Stage Two results were low, the number of children having free school meals was high, and there was very little or no music provision. So we tend to go to schools in areas where neither the school nor the parent can afford to bring musicians in or pay for private lessons for the children.
What do you see that Primary Robins brings to primary education that curriculum based education doesn’t?
Since the time when we founded Primary Robins there is a little more music in primary schools but there are still a lot of schools where parents have to pay for any kind of music lessons. Primary Robins is completely free. It does not cost the school or the parents any money. And the kids love it. The joy that singing brings to so many of the children is wonderful. It can boost their confidence and self-esteem and learning music enhances learning in other areas such as reading, spelling and speech development. The teachers also say it makes such a difference to things like attitude and even attendance, which is great to hear. Over the last twelve to thirteen years I have seen the huge impact that Primary Robins has had on so many children. Something magical happens when children sing together.
Do you teach the children how to sing as well as teaching them songs? If so what kind of techniques do you use?
We have 10 songbooks that include a variety of music: from traditional folk songs to Disney songs, great musical numbers and songs by the Beatles. The songbook includes musical notation. It is not intended to teach the children to read music, but some see the pattern of how they sing and how the dots relate to what they sing.
We always start with tongue twisters like “A proper cup of coffee from a proper copper coffee pot.” Teaching how to breathe properly is really important – we use the balloon idea of filling your tummy and then slowly letting it out, imagining they are slowly blowing out a candle. The children call this “back-to-front breathing”.
Do the children actually master this technique?
Yes. Whether it's lyrics of a song or singing technique, children are sponges. And I think what's so good about Primary Robins is its continuity. We don’t just go in once and do a workshop, it’s every week of the school year. If you’re practising proper singing technique every week of the year, it does stick. We have been at some schools in Southampton for 13 years now, so a child could potentially have Primary Robins for four years and sing through all ten songbooks. You start with the Muffin Man and you finish with a two part harmony of Rhythm of Life, or something like that. So it's a real musical journey they go on.
Are there any other musical experiences that you are able to give your “Robins” as well as singing lessons?
Besides the singing classes we have Musicians In and Robins Out.
Players from the brilliant Berkeley Ensemble visit some of the schools to play and talk about their instruments. For many children it will be the first time they have seen or heard a bassoon or double bass.
We organise concerts where the schools come together to perform songs they have learnt over the past year. Every summer children from Surrey schools perform in Grange Park Opera’s 700 seater opera house, accompanied by a small orchestral ensemble and alongside a professional opera singer. Last year 100 Hampshire Robins sang at the Theatre Royal in Winchester.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to work alongside a professional singer and perform in a concert with a live audience. I witnessed children who are quiet and reserved in class come alive on stage and perform with passion and confidence.” Teacher at Pyrcroft Grange Primary School
Any funny moments to share?
One Robin told me that he would always remember the name “quaver” as it reminded him of his favourite cheesy snack!
Most moving moment so far?
I will never forget the day a Year 4 boy who had been diagnosed with selective mutism in Year 2 volunteered to sing a solo. I looked at his teacher who was watching in disbelief, tears streaming down her face.
I truly believe that music does have the power to change lives.
Now Annabel, let’s turn to the fact that a few months ago you gave your part rep probably the best excuse ever given for missing a Wayns rehearsal: “I am sorry I can’t come to rehearsal- I’m going to Windsor Castle to meet the king!” Please tell us why and how this went!
On Thursday 3 April 2025 there was a reception at Windsor Castle to celebrate community music across the United Kingdom and it was really wonderful that Primary Robins were invited- I couldn’t believe it!
The evening began with a concert in the Waterloo Chamber, compered by Katie Derham and included performances by YolanDa Brown and the Sing for Freedom Choir. There followed a reception in St George's Hall where His Majesty King Charles III chatted to guests, and we were entertained by the London Vegetable Orchestra (with instruments such as a carrot, a parsnip, and a butternut squash). They played The Bare Necessities in three-parts! And His Majesty played his carrot! Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star! I’ll never forget that — brilliant!
And so you actually met the King? What was that like?
Yes, I had the great privilege of meeting the King. He was so charming; he just put you at ease and we were laughing away! A real honour and something I'll remember all my life.
photo credit: Ian Jones
How did it feel to have Primary Robins recognised in this way?
It was wonderful that Primary Robins was recognised. I feel hugely grateful that people support Primary Robins and enable us to bring singing into the lives of so many children. Every time I box up the new songbooks for the term it thrills me that children who might not otherwise experience the joy of singing get to sing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and, in this very challenging time, just have a bit of happiness.
Finally, is there anything you think a choir like the Waynflete Singers could learn from your Primary Robins?
Never forget the joy of singing!!
