In 2009, West End Kids were seen and heard by over 1 million people.

Now is your chance to audition to join the famous main West End Kids Company or take part in one of the other West End Kids projects in 2010.
 
WEK will audition male and female young performers aged 10-18yrs on Sunday 3rd January 2010, in Central London.

Coming up in 2010; West End Kids will take centre stage in a 15 minute feature slot, performing “Come So Far” an “Oliver” medley and a live performance of the acclaimed recording released on iTunes last month – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”

2010 also sees WEK in a busy performance, studio recording and television schedule including West End Live, work with the BBC, performances at the Royal Festival Hall and many other high profile events and performances.

The main WEK Company are looking to offer places to a larger number of young performers than usual which means, with such an exciting, rewarding and busy 2010 ahead – there really has never been a better time to audition for the famous West End Kids Company.

Auditions will also be held for places on the WEK: Training program and also the West End Kids vocal harmony Company – “WEK: Ovation”. You can also audition for your place on any of the WEK: Workshops in 2010 or the new WEK: Academy Essex, opening in January.

One audition does it all! Once you have completed a West End Kids audition – we will suggest the projects that best suit your particular talents.
 
Have you got the talent and ambition to be one of the famous West End Kids?
 
To register to audition online visit www.westendkids.co.uk or contact 0208 123 2025 to register for your audition by telephone.

The trio, all members of the main “West End Kids Company” attended two auditions at Shepperton Studios and were put through their paces by the Voice In A Million production staff. A new arrangement of the song has been written especially by West End Kids Musical Director, Martin-Gwyn Williams.

The addition of the WEK trio means that you can see the West End Kids in action in live performances of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – recorded and released on iTunes last month, “Come So Far” an “Oliver Medley” and ”Motherless Child”. Members of the WEK: Training and WEK: Ovation companies will also perform as part of a record-breaking children’s choir.

Auditions were held for young performers throughout the UK for those wishing to audition for the roles of Nancy, Oliver and Dodger. The auditions were attended by over 500 young hopefuls and provide an opportunity to take centre stage at the o2 Arena and perform with the famous West End Kids Company.

You can purchase tickets for the Voice In A Million concert at www.voiceinamillion.com

The track, which was written and performed by West End Kids who are lending their support to the “Voice In A Million” project has been released during National Adoption Week and raises awareness on behalf of the British Association of Adoption and Fostering.  West End Kids also wrote  vocal arrangements and performed backing vocals for “I’ll Be There” with Britain’s Got Talent star, Elliot Evans.

West End Kids will perform their arrangement of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” live at the o2 Arena on Thursday 28th January as part of the Voice In A Million concert. WEK will also perform “Come So Far” from the Hollywood blockbuster “Hairspray”, in addition to a medley of songs from “Oliver”. Young performers  aged 8-18yrs from all over the country are being invited to audition on 27th and 28th November for the roles of “Nancy”, “Oliver” and “Dodger”.

Commenting on the Oliver auditions on BBC Radio Essex, Martin Williams (Founder & Artistic Director of West End Kids) said:

This is a tremendous opportunity for young performers to come along, take part in a really fun and exciting audition process and have the opportunity to perform with the West End Kids and perform for tens of thousands of people at the o2 arena. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.

To register for an audition, visit www.westendkids.co.uk

To purchase the new single by the famous West End Kids, login to iTunes and search for West End Kids.

AUDITION NOTICE:

The hunt is on for young performers (8-18yrs) to play the roles of “Nancy”, “Oliver” and “Dodger” at the o2 Arena in January 2010!

West End Kids are searching for 3 talented young performers to play the roles of “Nancy”, “Oliver” and “Dodger” at London’s o2 Arena in January 2010. The three young performers selected will take centre stage at a packed o2 Arena and will perform with the famous West End Kids Company.

To register for an audition, click here - or visit www.westendkids.co.uk for further information

Dame Vera Lynn

The West End Kids have recorded “Not Forgotten” with forces sweetheart, Dame Vera Lynn. The recording has royal approval and will be released in support of the “Not Forgotten” and “Dame Vera Lynn Forces Charity” to raise money for British Troops. The recording will be played at Buckingham Palace later this year for Princess Ann who is patron for the Not Forgotten Charity.

Dame Vera Lynn is the original “forces sweetheart”, famous for such songs as “We’ll Meet Again” and “White Cliffs of Dover”. In 1940, one year after the beginning of World War II, Lynn began her own radio programme, Sincerely Yours, sending messages to British troops serving abroad. She and a quartet would perform songs most requested by the soldiers. Lynn also visited hospitals to interview new mothers and send personal messages to their husbands overseas. During the war years she would tour Egypt, India, Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops.

Vera Lynn was appointed an Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British Empire in 1959, and a Dame Commander of the Order (DBE) in 1975. In 2000, she received a special “Spirit of the 20th Century” Award.  In 1976, the charity Breast Cancer Research Trust, was founded, with Lynn its chairperson and later its president.

West End Kids are delighted to lend their support to Dame Vera Lynn the Not Forgotten and Dame Vera Lynn charities and also the British Troops currently serving in conflicts around the world. Details of the release will be available at www.westendkids.co.uk shortly.

The song will be released  during National Adoption Week (9th – 13th November) alongside the West End Kids recording of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – making up two of the three tracks released to highlight the 4000 children currently awaiting adoption in the UK. The 3 tracks, recorded and released as part of Voice In A Million will be available  prior to the prestigious event at London’s o2 Arena on Thursday 28th January.

West End Kids are heavily involved in the series of events, produced by Classic Media and in support of the British Association of Adoption and Fostering Charity. WEK will perform music from Oliver & Hairspray at the o2 in addition to performing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” live and also appearing “I’ll Be There”.

The West End Kids will soon be starting a nationwide search for the parts of “Oliver” and “Dodger” – giving two lucky boys the chance to star at the o2 arena, and perform with the famous West End Kids Company. Further details will be released via the official website (www.westendkids.co.uk) shortly.

Classic Media, who are producing the “Voice In A Million” series of events at London’s 02 Arena in 2010, in addition to a number of other dates in arenas throughout the country have asked the WEKs to record and lay down the track to feature on the official “National Adoption Week” (9th – 15th November) album. The music featured on the CD will also be performed at the o2 Arena, where the West End Kids will lead a mass children’s choir of 4000 voices – repeating their performance of Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. WEK will also perform music from Oliver and Hairspray.

Commenting on the recording task, Martin Williams (Founder & Artistic Director) said;

“it will be good experience for the WEKs. We’ll do our first rehearsal the day  before (31st) and then go into the studio the following day and record it. Naturally, that will mean they are under a fair amount of pressure, but it’s all experience that stands them in good stead for the future.

The arrangement was a tough one. We were given an orchestration of the old “temptations” version of the song, so trying to do something with that to bring it up to date a little took me some time. However – I think we’ve got a nice, fresh and modern arrangement that makes the most of the outstanding vocal talent we have in WEK at the moment. I’m sure it will be a successful and enjoyable few days.”

Paul Adams (Press and Communications Officer for West End Kids) said;

“We’ve been working and talking with Classic Media about the Voice In A Million project for some time now. We’re delighted to get the kids in the studio and to do what they do best.  We know that there are thousands of youngsters from schools and theatre schools who are looking up to the West End Kids as their inspiration and as the model young professionals. That’s quite a responsibility for our own youngsters within WEK, but a responsibility they rise to, relish and really enjoy”.

Further details about the recording, due for release during National Adoption Week will be available via westendkids.co.uk shortly.

Meanwhile, if you would like the chance to take to the stage with the famous West End Kids at the o2 arena, auditions are being held on Sunday 6th September. To register, call o2o8 123 2025 or register online here.

The event, that will feature and be led by the main West End Kids Company is of the largest scale imaginable, and will see the West End Kids

- Perform a feature slot for a packed o2 arena

- Take centre stage for a fully choreographed performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – with a children’s choir of 4000 voices in the background providing backing vocals for the West End Kids performance.

- Feature heavily in the high profile promotions in the media in lead up to the event.

In addition to the actual performance at the o2, West End Kids will enter the recording studio at Shepperton Studios in late August to record the official release of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, which is scheduled for national release in supermarkets and record stores to coincide with National Adoption Week in November. West End Kids will once again spearhead the promotional campaign for the national release.

These high profile performances signal the start of one of the most exciting times for West End Kids.

Commenting on confirmation of the o2 performance date, West End Kids Artistic Director, Martin-Gwyn Williams said;

“we are delighted to provide this opportunity for West End Kids – they thoroughly deserve it for working so hard. We will be working hard on all of the performance material to meet the standard of performance the producers, the audience, and indeed the 4000 strong children’s choir who will be looking up to the WEKs as the best set of young performers in the country”.

–

West End Kids will be holding auditions on Sunday 6th September, where young hopefuls aged 10 – 18yrs will have the opportunity to audition for West End Kids and take part in the o2 event.

To register to audition for West End Kids – click here.

Lauren Bain prepares to say farewell to WEK

Lauren Bain, the longest serving West End Kid and only remaining founder member speaks frankly to Alex Martin in a lengthy interview where she talks about life after WEK, her most treasured memories and what it has meant to her to be one of the famous West End Kids.

The set will include Christmas themed Musical Theatre awell as the tradtional style of vocal jazz that WEK perform each Christmas time. The VoiceLab events are free to the general public, further information confirming performance date(s) and times will be available at westendkids.co.uk shortly.