LEEDS 2023 staged a huge opening ceremony at Headingley Stadium to launch the city’s year of culture, with Leeds Conservatoire students and staff involved.
Carnival dancers at The Awakening. Photo credit: Danny Lawson
Titled The Awakening, the show on Saturday 7 January celebrated Leeds’ cultural past, present and future. Thousands of audience members secured free tickets by submitting their own pieces of creativity into a ballot. Many of these pieces were displayed around the stadium and on screens next to the stage.
Hosted by the BBC’s Gabby Logan and Sanchez Payne, local performers shared the stage with well-known names including singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and his band LYR, The Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North, rapper Graft and CBeebies presenter George Webster.
Solar Jets performing ‘I Predict A Riot.’ Photo credit: Steve Riding
Leeds Conservatoire students and staff featured in the show’s ‘I Predict A Riot’ sequence, which included a vocal arrangement by Vice Principal Patsy Gilbert sang by Musical Theatre students. In addition, students and Senior Lecturer Dermot Daly supported the next generation of talent by appearing on stage with Britain’s youngest stadium rockers Solar Jets, who delighted the crowd with a rendition of the aforementioned Kaiser Chiefs hit. MA Musical Theatre Company student Emily Bailey also took part in the choreographed routines by Northern School of Contemporary Dance Principal Sharon Watson.
Corinne Bailey Rae watching the drone display. Photo credit: Steve Riding
The show concluded with a stunning drone display depicting an awakening giant appearing above the stadium before bursting into individual lights handed out to audience members on entry.
Patsy Gilbert, Vice Principal at Leeds Conservatoire, said, “It was a pleasure to be part of The Awakening. The performances were all excellent and showcased Leeds’ creativity superbly. Displaying the pieces that audience members created to secure tickets was a lovely touch – I was thrilled to spot my own submission! Here’s to a year filled with creative opportunities throughout the city.”
Luminate Education Group, of which Leeds Conservatoire is a member, is a Gold Education Partner of LEEDS 2023.
