YOUNGSTERS with special educational needs from The Grove Primary School and Larkrise School will be taking part in a Magna Carta Songs performance at Salisbury Cathedral on Tuesday (July 14).

Pupils from the two Trowbridge schools took part in workshops with creative arts company La Folia recently to get ready for the performance at Salisbury Cathedral, which will take place at 10.30am.

The aim of Magna Songs is to mark the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta – famous as a symbol of justice, fairness, and human rights – and to give voice to some of the young people who find it difficult to express their own needs and human rights in today’s society.

In addition to the performance on Tuesday, the children’s songs will be performed by internationally renowned tenor Mark Padmore along with La Folia String Quartet in a chamber music performance on September 19 at 7.30pm in the 13th century Medieval Hall.

La Folia’s Artistic director Howard Moody said: “We wanted to use the inspiration of the Magna Carta to give a voice to young people who, because of their particular circumstances, find it difficult to be heard.”

“The sight and sound of the students’ Magna Songbook, being sung and danced in the Cathedral, the home of Magna Carta, on the 14th of July, will be a true expression of social change.

“And our final project concert will break new ground, with its inclusion of songs created by children with special needs, sung by a leading professional singer of international calibre, and placed alongside a masterwork of the classical repertoire.”

For more information, visit www.lafoliamusic.org or to book tickets for Magna Songs on September 19, visit www.salisburyplayhouse.com. Admission to the performance on July 14 is free.