A SCHOOL choir from Notts are to perform at Wembley Arena – using sign language.
The pupils from South Notts Academy, the old Dayncourt School, in Radcliffe-on-Trent, are to perform at the Voice in a Million concert next month.
In all, 7,000 pupils from across the country will perform at the event, which is being held to highlight the issues of fostering and adoption in the UK.
Pupils from the South Notts Academy will be the only ones using sign language and will perform 18 songs, including a Beatles medley and Gary Barlow song Sing .
"We can't wait to perform there," said the choir's oldest member Vinny Bunby, 18.
"It will be great to perform in front of lots of people. I joined up to the choir recently and I'm still learning some of the signs. But I'm confident I can learn them all."
The choir was set up just over a year ago at the South Notts Academy. Sixteen were chosen to make the make the trip to Wembley Arena on Wednesday, March 12.
The youngsters, who can all hear normally, say they are inspired by their teacher Simon Astill, who is profoundly deaf and has helped to teach them sign language.
Mr Astill has been involved in signed singing for a number of years. He is the director of a signed singing group called Harmoneyes.
Wembley isn't the first big venue the choir have performed at, having previously starred at the LG Arena in Birmingham. In that concert, Rhiannon Jones, 12, performed with Mr Astill on stage.
She said: "I really enjoy doing sign language and would like to use it somehow when I get older.
"I've been a member of the choir since it first started. I'm looking forward to performing at Wembley."
Fellow group member Eve Grundy, 11, added: "Learning sign language has been good fun. Mr Astill is an inspiration to us. Being able to go to Wembley is great for us."
Mr Astill, who runs the signing classes with fellow teacher Nick Entwisle, said: "It is a great achievement by the group. They have performed at a previous Voice in a Million concert and to be invited to perform at Wembley is just terrific."
