QUEEN Elizabeth High School is gearing up for the climax of the school's 400th anniversary celebrations. The school's 400th birthday is being commemorated throughout the year with events ranging from a 400x400 relay race to a performance of "Carmina Burana" by the school choir. The programme will culminate in a celebration in Hexham Abbey on the 29th of June, the date the Charter was signed in 1599. The school choir has been busy rehearsing for their performance of "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff on Thursday, July lst. The singers will be accompanied by an ensemble of musicians from Queen Elizabeth and will feature Adrian Spillet, BBC Young Musician of the Year. This unique event will feature a world premiere of "Spes Durat Avorum"; composed by head of music Len Young.. The lyrics for the piece were written by QE students who were asked to explore their hopes and dreams for the future. This theme was chosen as it expresses the school's motto "Spes Durat Avorum" the hopes of our ancestors live on. One choir member said the performance, "Is sure to be a magical event". The strong tradition of drama within the school is continued as the school's Youth Theatre group prepared to stage a production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The heritage of high quality drama is continued with the bold decision to stage the play outdoors. The Hydro grounds provide the perfect setting for the enchanting night-time activities of the fairies, lovers and mechanicals. Youth Theatre's thirtieth production looks set to rank among the best. The scale and variety of the 400th celebrations is a tribute to the huge support from everyone involved. All students have been given the opportunity to commemorate this historical event and to celebrate the past, present and future successes of Queen Elizabeth High School.

From "Queen's Charter" 25th June 1999