Song's world premiere to help Ripon and Harrogate-based charity Dementia Forward

The exciting event follows an appeal to singers around the community to join in with a virtual choir performance of a song specially composed for our times by the choir’s musical director, David Weale and his sister Rebecca Luetchford.

The Skipton Choir is launching the world premiere of the new song live on YouTube on Friday, August 14 at 10am.

Some 60 members of the choir and wider community perform the song via virtual choir recordings with lyrics reflecting how important singing has been for many during the lonely days of lockdown.

Those taking part include a former backing vocalist in a rock band, a retired music teacher and the Hong Kong-based, 11-year-old grandson of The Skipton Choir chair Carol Squire.

Also contributing are singers from Harrogate, Skipton, Ilkley, Lancashire and Cumbria.

Each person individually recorded their part for the performance with all submissions then digitally merged and edited to create the impressive video concert recording.

The aim of the world premiere is to raise money for Dementia Forward, the Ripon and Harrogate-based charity which supports local people living with dementia and those who care for them.

The choir’s musical director, David Weale said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the outcome – the recording sounds amazing and we hope everyone who takes a look and listens to the performance will make a donation to the charity.

“Music is a lifeline for many people, particularly at the moment.

"And for those living with dementia, their music memories are often unaffected by the disease in the same way as other memories – singing can make a huge difference to their wellbeing.

"Given the benefits of singing for everyone, we also thought it would be good to involve the wider community with a song especially written for our times.”

Apart from featuring a specially written song, the project was also unusual in including people from in and around the Skipton area who were invited to take part in the performance.

The Skipton Choir chair Carol Squire said: “We’ve been absolutely delighted at the response to our invitation for people across the community to join in with our next recording and have been surprised at just how far afield some of them have come from."

The Skipton Choir’s virtual performance can be seen on https://youtu.be/Zt4vh-ML4dI from 10am on Friday, August 14.

It will also be available on The Skipton Choir YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3ftfo2D

Anyone who would like to support the choir’s latest project with a donation can visit https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/the-skipton-choir-community-performance

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