Students record Syria charity single

'Children of Syria' charity single, College students Michael Hall, Karl Harris, Luis Oddy and Dan Beck with the girls from Falinge Park High School and Jacqui Farasowskyie

High school students, assisted by college media students, have recorded a charity single called ‘Children of Syria’.

The music video features students from Falinge Park High School and was written by Jacqui Farasowskyie (Stephens), a volunteer ‘Community Champion’ for Rochdale.

Media students from Hopwood Hall College produced the video.

Jacqui wrote ‘Children of Syria’ to help promote awareness of the plight of the Syrian refugees and in particular, the children who are living in horrendous conditions; many are in camps at the borders of various countries without food, clothing and medicines.

Jacqui approached the College to see if media students would be interested in making the video; tutors thought it was a great opportunity for students to get some work experience for their ‘music video production’ module, as well as it being a really good cause.

‘Children of Syria’ is performed by Kendra Marshall, a Year 8 student and Lauren Harden, Shakira Clarke, Jessica Lord, Emma O'Rourke and Shanelle Kay who are all Year 10 students.

The college media students who are producing and editing the video are: Michael Hall, 18 from Middleton as the Director, Karl Harris, 19 from Middleton as the Producer, Dan Beck, 18 from Bury as the First Assistant Director, Luis Oddy, 17 from Rochdale on the camera and Aaron Diskin, 17 from Rochdale as the Editor.

The recording took place at Studio-Studio Recording in Whitworth last week and the students will be editing the footage back at college.

Media student Dan Beck said of his experience: “I really enjoyed the filming day. It’s important to gain as much filming experience as possible and the course gives us that.”

Jacqui Farasowskyie (Stephens), who wrote the music and lyrics, was impressed: “The media students were very professional in their role and took any direction in their stride.

“The fact that they were unsupervised showed their maturity at its best. I would really love to work with them again in the future and would recommend them to anyone who is looking to have a video made. We are all now looking forward to the finished video/song.”

‘Children of Syria’ is due for release on 25 May.