September 16, 2026 - 170 views
Darth Vader and Princess Leia have been battling it out in a Star Wars spectacular being enjoyed by around 50,000 schoolchildren across Conwy, Denbighshire and Wrexham.
The giant Vader went head-to-head with Leia in a lightsabre duel as the 11-piece Make Some Noise Band from the North Wales Music Cooperative performed the iconic Imperial March.
The concerts are being streamed live to around 150 primary schools, while the band is also performing in person at 23 secondary schools across the three counties.
Based at the cooperative's headquarters in Denbigh, the band is made up of music tutors who are touring to encourage children to enjoy music, sing and consider learning an instrument.
Artistic lead Wyn Pearson says the programme has been shaped by the children themselves, who were asked to choose their favourite singers and songs.
Alongside the Star Wars theme, the concerts feature music from Michael Jackson, K-pop, Welsh band Bwncath and Justin Timberlake.
Princess Leia is being played by award-winning mezzo soprano Sioned Terry from Abergele, who has also performed for members of the Royal Family.
The other soloist is Sara Davies from Old Colwyn, who won the Cân i Gymru competition in 2024 with her song Ti, written by her grandfather for her grandmother. She later represented Wales at the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland and won that competition too.
Sara says music can help young people express themselves, discover who they are and feel better about themselves.
The North Wales Music Cooperative provides music tuition to around 5,000 children every week, and organisers say previous streamed concerts have led to increased interest in taking up music lessons.
The musicians also introduce their instruments during the performances, giving children the chance to see and hear how different instruments work.
The cooperative says the concerts are designed not only to entertain but to inspire the next generation of young musicians — with Darth Vader and Princess Leia providing a rather memorable way of doing it.
