Portsmouth's voices unite in On Shining Waters music video celebrating the city's 100th birthday
More than 50 choirs and community groups from across Portsmouth have come together to create On Shining Waters, a powerful new music video celebrating the city's 100th birthday.
Commissioned as part of Portsmouth 100, the project brings together thousands of singers of all ages and backgrounds in a moving tribute to the city they call home. From school choirs and community ensembles to workplace groups and signing choirs, On Shining Waters celebrates the spirit, diversity and pride of Portsmouth through music.
Filmed at locations across Portsmouth and beyond, the video showcases the city's people, places and shared sense of community. It also features choirs and schools from Portsmouth's twin and sister cities around the world, reflecting the city's international friendships as part of this landmark celebration.
Specially composed by Emily Barden, On Shining Waters was brought to life by Portsmouth Music Service over several months of planning and filming. The team visited schools, community venues and rehearsal spaces across the city to capture performances from hundreds of participants, creating a lasting musical legacy for Portsmouth's centenary year.
The music video received its premiere in Guildhall Square on 1 July, where many of the participating choirs and groups came together to celebrate the culmination of the project. The premiere marked a fitting moment in the Portsmouth 100 programme, bringing performers, families and the wider community together to experience the finished film for the first time.
On Shining Waters is now available to watch online and forms part of the wider Portsmouth 100 celebrations, marking 100 years since Portsmouth was granted city status.
The project features performances from:
Schools –
Collège Jean Moulin
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School
Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery
Court Lane Junior Academy
Gatcombe Park Primary School
Highbury Primary School
King's Academy College Park
Langstone Primary Academy
Manor Infant and Nursery School
Mary Rose Academy
New Horizons Primary School
Portsmouth High School
Redwood Park Academy
Solent Infant School
Solent Junior School
Southsea Infant School
St Edmund's Catholic School
St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School
St Jude's C of E Primary School
St Paul's Catholic Primary School
St Swithun's Catholic Primary School
Westover Primary School
Choirs –
Community Sing
Cosham Community Choir
Cultural Collective Choir
Emily Barden
Ensemble Concert Audience
Fine Voice Choir
Gemma Cake
Groundlings Community Choir
Headway Portsmouth Choir
Jugendchor Bahtalo
Military Wives Choir
Milton Glee
Music Coordinators
Phoenix Players
Portsmouth Choral Union
Portsmouth Councillors
Portsmouth Music Hub Board
Portsmouth Music Service
Resonate
Shaping Portsmouth Choir
Signing Choir
Singing Champions Choir
Song Waves
Southsea Community Choir
St Paul's Church Choir
St Paul's Community Choir
TADAA
The Children's Bubbles Fund Choir
The Young Creatives