PUPILS at Loretto RC Primary School in Musselburgh have been enjoying learning how to make their own mini opera.

They took part in three creative music workshops, led by McOpera, Music Co-OPERAtive Scotland, as part of the Lammermuir Festival’s ‘Let’s Make an Opera’ project.

They explored some of the themes taken from the community opera called Catriona and the Dragon, which was performed in Dunbar last spring.

One of the aims of the project is to give youngsters the chance to write and perform their own songs based on climate change and how they feel about the environment – the theme of Catriona and the Dragon.

On the final day, 53 children in P4 and P5 gave a 30-minute performance of a song they had written about sustainability for the rest of the school and their parents. It was called I Hope the Earth’s Still Beautiful, For You.

Lorna McCallum, headteacher, said: “I could not be prouder of what they achieved. They showed a real understanding of musicality and performance.

“The professionals commented that the children were beautiful singers and that they were easy to work with because they had an understanding of communal singing.

“I think this is because we do lots of hymn practice and whole school singing at church celebrations.”

I Hope The Earth’s Still Beautiful, For You

I hope people are good.

I hope there is more food.

I hope the earth’s still beautiful, for you.

I hope there are more trees,

And the world is free of disease

I hope the earth’s still beautiful, for you.

Could it be the earth will be cleaner?

Could it be the earth will be greener?

I hope the earth’s still beautiful, for you.

Could it be that everyone’s healthy?

Could it be that everyone’s happy?

I hope the earth’s still beautiful, for you.

I hope people are safe,

And the world’s a much kinder place.

I hope the earth’s still beautiful, for you.

I hope every child’s free.

I hope you’re all treated fairly.

I hope the earth’s still beautiful, for you.

Could it be the earth will be cleaner?

Could it be the earth will be greener?

I hope the earth’s still beautiful, for you.

Could it be that everyone’s healthy?

Could it be that everyone’s happy?

I hope the earth’s still beautiful, for you.

For you.