Latest News from Commonwealth Music

This video of the Commonwealth Children’s Choir Remembrance Week Music Workshop, November 2025, was made possible with the very kind support of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation and has been made in memory of all the fallen or injured in conflict, and all those who have given, and continue to give, vital medical care.

Remembrance Week, November 2025

In Remembrance Week 2025, the Commonwealth Children’s Choir took part in a special Commonwealth Music Workshop. Three songs were studied and explored:

I’ll Remember, words and music composed by Simon Haw MBE
Jack-A Local Hero, music composed by Paul Carroll with words by Dr Graeme Davies CVO
The Commonwealth Anthem music composed by Paul Carroll with words by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The inspirational song of Remembrance, “Jack – A Local Hero”, was dedicated to the late HRH Prince Philip, Lord High Admiral. The song was composed by Paul Carroll with words by Dr Grahame Davies CVO.

A recording of the song was presented by Paul Carroll to HRH Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace in 2017.

“Jack – A Local Hero” tells the story of Jack Cornwell VC, a 16-year boy from Manor Park in the East End of London, who joined the Navy and died at sea in The Battle of Jutland in 1916. On 16th November 1916, Jack's mother made the long journey from where she lived in East London to Buckingham Palace, where King George V presented her with her young son's posthumously awarded medal The Victoria Cross.

Commonwealth Day 2024

A special event was held at the Memorial Gates
At Hyde Park Corner in London,
On Commonwealth Day 2025 to mark the
75th anniversary of The Commonwealth.

56 children of the Commonwealth Children’s Choir performed,
accompanied by the Band of the Household Cavalry.

Commonwealth Day 2024

A special event was held in the Guard Chapel in London
On Commonwealth Day 2025 to mark the
75th anniversary of The Commonwealth.

300 children of the Commonwealth Children’s Choir performed,
accompanied by the Band of the Grenadier Guards.

February 2024

The Commonwealth Scholars’ Choir and
Commonwealth Youth Choir were invited to sing
At a Commonwealth Scholarship Commission event
For Commonwealth Scholars at
QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, London.

January 2024

Commonwealth Music Academy Children’s Choir

The Commonwealth Music Academy
Children’s Choir was invited to record
‘Brush My Teeth’ to support a tooth
brushing campaign delivered by C3 Collaborating
for Health and the Commonwealth Nurses
and Midwives Federation with funding from
Colgate as part of Colgate’s Bright Smiles,
Bright Futures programme and their ongoing
commitment to oral health.

Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Colgate Programme Logos

Commonwealth Music Academy Children’s Choir

Commonwealth Music Academy
A New Term Starts

The mission of The Commonwealth Music Academy is:
“Inspire to Aspire”.

500 excited children were so pleased to be singing together
again and taking part in the rehearsals for the performances and
recordings of the Commonwealth Children’s Choir.

The inspirational song “Jack – A Local Hero” is dedicated to
HRH Prince Philip, Lord High Admiral.
It was composed by Paul Carroll with words by Dr Grahame Davies.
A recording of the song was presented by Paul Carroll
to HRH Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace in 2017.

“Jack – A Local Hero” tells the story of Jack Cornwell VC,
a 16-year boy from the East End of
London, who joined the Navy and died at sea in The Battle of Jutland
in 1916. On 16th November 1916, Jack's mother made the long journey
from East London where she lived to Buckingham Palace,
where King George V presented her with her young son's
posthumously awarded Victoria Cross.

“Jack – A Local Hero” words by Dr Grahame Davies
He took the road to seaward
before the break of day.
He left upon the morning tide
when mist was on the bay.
The clouds that hide the heavens
hid his path away.
And with each dawn my heart breaks
for the words we could not say.

They cut the words of comfort
in slate and stone and steel.
They stand through every season
for faith I cannot feel,
for love that soothes no longing,
for hope that does not heal,
and with each night the sorrow
the dark cannot conceal.

I will travel by the road he took
although I travel late,
although they will not carve my name
on steel or stone or slate.
For loving has no limits;
devotion has no date.
I take my way to tell him
the words that had to wait.

The British Museum

On Coronation Weekend the Commonwealth Children’s Choir
were invited to give a special performance in the
Great Court at The Britsh Museum in London.

200 children sang songs from around The Commonwealth
to a hugely appreciative audience. It was an amazing experience
for the children and they were all so honoured to be part of
such an historic eand memorable event.

Commonwealth Music presents a Coronation Album of Music
to mark and celebrate The Coronation of Their Majesties
King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday 6 May 2023.

Music performed by the Commonwealth Orchestra and Youth Orchestra,
Commonwealth Scholars Choir, Commonwealth Youth Choir
and Commonwealth Children’s Choir, with the Band of the Coldstream Guards
and the Orchestra of the Household Division.

The Coronation Album of Music ….

“Continuity” - On Commonwealth Day,
Monday 13 March 2023 at 12 noon,
the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and Choir
presented a performance on Horse Guards Parade
as a Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,
70 years as Head of The Commonwealth,
and to mark and celebrate
the new Head of The Commonwealth,
His Majesty King Charles III.

Photo Credit: Chris Lobina

The Memorial Gates, Constitution Hill, London
The Commonwealth Children’s Choir was honoured to sing at the annual ceremony on Commonwealth Day, 13 March 2023.

Remembering those from The Commonwealth and Nepal who gave their lives in the World Wars.

The ceremony is held to pay respect for the immense contribution and sacrifice made by the five million men and women of The Commonwealth and Nepal during World War One and World War Two.

The Memorial Gates were inaugurated by
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
on 6 November 2002.

Beyond Boundaries” a concert presented by
The Nehru Centre, London,
with The Commonwealth Music Academy.

The Nehru Centre is the cultural outreach of The High Commission of India in UK. It is among the most active of India’s cultural centres abroad and has, over the years, emerged as a premier institution engaged in India’s cultural interface with U.K. The Centre serves as a platform for Indian culture in the broadest sense, focussing on the role played both by British and Indian artists & scholars in promoting greater cultural understanding, acting as a catalyst and facilitator in promoting interaction among cultural bodies in the two countries.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.

On Tuesday 22 November 2022, The Nehru Centre with The Commonwealth Music Academy presented a concert “Beyond Boundaries” as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav performed by musicians of The Commonwealth Music Academy and Indian musicians based in India and UK.