Students at a Cardiff high school were left utterly astounded when Ed Sheeran made a surprise entrance during their morning assembly. The global music sensation serenaded nearly 2,000 pupils at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff on Thursday morning, sparking excitement and joy among the crowd.
A regular school assembly was underway when staff and students were teased with the announcement of a special guest; however, no one anticipated the arrival of the chart-topping artist. The event signalled the official inauguration of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, a charitable endeavour aimed at enhancing music education for young people throughout the UK.
Mid-way through the assembly headteacher Adam Lear entered the hall with Ed Sheeran in tow.
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“It was incredible. He walked out and as you can imagine, everyone was absolutely blown away. The atmosphere was amazing,” he said.
Before his grand appearance at the assembly, Ed had already taken the opportunity to astonish 80 music students during their rehearsal. “Their faces were amazing,” Mr Lear added.
Pupils joined in as Ed performed -Credit:Ed Sheeran Foundation
Ed Sheeran surprised pupils at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff where he turned up to perform -Credit:Ed Sheeran Foundation
During the assembly, Ed Sheeran delivered renditions of two songs, including his smash hit ‘Shape of You’, with the students enthusiastically singing along to the chorus. He also participated in a Q&A session with the students.
Accompanying Ed was Welsh songwriter Amy Wadge, who is known for co-writing ‘Thinking Out Loud’ with him.
“It’s been a very special day,” the headteacher said. “I’ve spoken to some pupils and they are just completely overwhelmed. They have been saying ‘I was performing on that stage last week and now Ed Sheeran is performing on it’. The school is on a real high after the visit so we are delighted.”
The 33 year old singer also visited East Moors Youth Centre in Splott to speak to young people taking part in the Ministry of Life Education Project, which offers an alternative education course in music. Ed performed alongside some of the students.
In a post on Instagram, MOL said: “Ed Sheeran made a surprise visit today to the project and jammed with our talented students. The place was buzzing and we can’t thank Ed enough for what him and his new foundation have done for us and our young people.”
Speaking about his new project, Ed said: “Music education has shaped who I am. I’ve always enjoyed playing music, and it’s led to some of the best moments of my life.”
He also visited Eastmoors Youth Centre in Splott
In an Instagram post, he added: “I set up @edsheeranfnd because recently there’s been less and less importance being put on music education. Even when I was in school it was seen as a ‘doss subject’ and not taken seriously.
“There’s a misconception that it’s not a real job – when the music industry accounts for 216,000 jobs in so many different fields, and bringing as much as £7.6 billion in a year to the UK economy. Not to mention the power our art has worldwide to bring joy to people. It’s something we should be proud of and championing in the UK, not sweeping under the rug and pretending we are just bankers (no offence to bankers obvz).
“It was incredible for my mental health as a kid, feeling a sense of purpose and achievement, even just learning piano or cello at a young age way before songwriting. I want kids to be able to learn instruments, learn production and songwriting, performing, and have apprenticeship schemes help them learn different skills to enter the industry.
“I employ 150 people on tour who all have different skill sets, there’s also labels, management, publishing, promoters. Music is such a key part of our society.
“The more I do travelling around and visiting schools and grassroots projects, the more I see there’s passion and inspiring people, who are being undervalued and underserved. I’m hoping this foundation is a start to giving them the support they need to keep going, and show them they are hugely important to us.”
The Foundation has set out to work with communities, industry and government to make a change in how music has taught in the UK. “We want every child to have equal access to express themselves through music and opportunity to pursue a music career,” they said.