SEVERAL schools in Redditch have joined forces to work with renown composer and conductor Michael Betteridge.

They have created a new song-cycle which is to be premiered in Birmingham next month.

Prior to that performance, two warm-up events will be taking place, one of which will be at St Stephen's Church in Redditch on June 26.

It will be a showcase of school musical talent in Redditch incorporating 180 pupils from seven West Midland academies who have worked with Michael Betteridge to create and perform a brand new piece on contemporary music.

Schools taking part include Abbeywood First, Churchill Middle, Ipsley CE RSA Academy and Arrow Vale RSA Academy.

The work, entitled Did you see? Did you hear, is around 40 minutes long and is made up of a series of songs, known as a song-cycle, which is performed by the youngsters themselves.

Commissioned by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group together with Royal Society of Arts, Michael Betteridge collected the material for the lyrics and music through a series of workshops with the children involved.