The students of Queen Elizabeth II High School are presenting a programme of Choral Poetry Reading and Manx Music at The House of Manannan on Wednesday 15th February to celebrate Isle of Architecture. The programme will run between 2.00pm and 3.00pm.

The programme is being organised by English Teacher, Usha Kishore, and Religious Education Teacher, Austin Miller, in conjunction with the project. Isle of Architecture is a year-long celebration of the built environment and aims to engage the public with the Island’s rich architectural heritage and encourage debate about the future of building on the Isle of Man. This initiative is supported by Manx National Heritage, Culture Vannin and the Isle of Man Society of Architects. The House of Manannan, which incorporates the former Peel railway station, is the most appropriate place to celebrate the Isle of Man, architecturally and culturally.

Queen Elizabeth II High School has always promoted poetry. Previously the school has published a poetry anthology entitled Equality, Diversity to highlight the increasingly multicultural element of the island. On the 15th February, students will be reading poems of T E Brown and some poetical passages from Hall Caine’s The Little Manx Nation. The reading will also feature Manx elements from Usha Kishore’s debut collection, On Manannan’s Isle, like the Phynnodderree and Moddey Dhoo and Manannan, the legendary God of the island.

Usha Kishore said: “I feel strongly that page poetry can be effectively staged. The nuances of metrical variation and blends can be projected dramatically in a reading. A choral reading would weave in the rhythms of poetry, with solo, multiple and contrapuntal voices, creating a chant like quality. The students have been working hard for their performance.”