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Uplifting peace proms event will leave audiences 'full of hope for brighter future

Dancers from the Michelle Johnston School of Highland Dance in Belfast will also perform
Dancers from the Michelle Johnston School of Highland Dance in Belfast will also perform Dancers from the Michelle Johnston School of Highland Dance in Belfast will also perform

A cross-community 'Peace Proms' event, which promises to leave the audience "uplifted, renewed and full of hope for a brighter future" is due to take place a week before the Assembly election.

The Belfast Peace Proms is due to take place at the SSE Arena on Sunday February 26 and features the critically acclaimed Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland as well as 3,500 children from Northern Ireland primary schools, who make up the Belfast Children's Peace Choir.

According to the organisers they will be symbolically dressed in plain white t-shirts representing peace and harmony, and will sing a programme filled with family favourites including Disney and pop medleys, and peace anthems like Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the World’.

Conducted by internationally acclaimed UK music educator Greg Bearsell the line-up als includes an array of champion dancers from the Michelle Johnston School of Highland Dance in Belfast and the Rooney, O’Malley, Maguire School of Irish Dance in Newry; as well as champion solo Bagpiper Grahame Harris and the World Champion Colmcille Pipe and Drum Corps from Derry.

"It is impossible to leave Peace Proms concert without feeling uplifted, renewed and full of hope for a brighter future," the organisers said.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire has set March 2 as the date for a fresh Assembly election, less than a year on from the last polling day.

The decision came after Sinn Féin chose not to name a replacement for deputy first minister Martin McGuinness on Monday, resulting in the collapse of the power-sharing executive.

The party has said DUP "arrogance" , failures in terms of equality and the Arlene Foster's failure to step aside over the botched Renewable Heat Incentive have led to a fresh election.