An Enfield-based youth choir has provided the soundtrack for Center Parcs’ new advert, which premiered on 20th December 2021.
Young Notes is part of the award-winning Young Talent Academy, a community interest company which provides opportunities for young people from the local area to get involved with performing arts. The Young Notes choir includes singers aged from 3 to 21.
The advert focuses on a family recharging and refreshing during their break and features a well-known, catchy song.
Center Parcs’ Senior Brand and Content Manager, Andrew Regan, said: “We instantly fell in love with the idea of using Stevie Wonder’s ‘For Once In My Life’ for our new advert. After a really difficult two years, we wanted to have a song that was upbeat, optimistic and made people feel good! But we also wanted to convey our brand essence – families – and how better to do that than to have a children’s choir singing the soundtrack.”
Andrew and his team, along with advertising agency Brothers and Sisters, met with Young Notes, who first started out in 2017 and now have more than 150 students attending their singing, dancing and drama classes.
The choir recorded their version of the toe-tapping tune at the Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, where artists such as Madonna and Elton John have previously recorded.
Regan O’Mahony, Founder and Director of the Young Talent Academy, said: “When we were asked to take part in the Center Parcs advert, the students were so excited! The whole experience was really enjoyable, and the students were incredibly professional throughout – I’m so proud of them all.
“When I came up with the idea of Young Notes, I knew young people loved to sing, and I also knew there were great mental and physical benefits that come from singing and, in particular, group singing. Having worked with young people as a teacher, I wanted to design a new dynamic choir that challenged the traditional stereotypes of singing in a choir. I wanted to create a place where young people could sing upbeat music that they love.”
The Young Talent Academy focuses on empowering, supporting and nurturing students to help them achieve their potential, offering a number of bursaries and scholarships to young people who would otherwise be unable to access performing arts training. Their students have gone on to perform in West End shows, including School of Rock and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, as well as performing at venues such as the O2 Arena and Westminster Cathedral.