• The Brynmawr Intergenerational Connect Choir feature on a new recording of Clean Bandit’s UK number one hit ‘Symphony’
• Alongside music stars: Zara Larsson, Emeli Sande, Nothing But Thieves, Declan McKenna, RAYE, Becky Hill, Mahalia, Tom Grennan, Sinead Harnett and RAY BLK
• Song is a thank you for ‘The Big Night In’ which has so far raised over £70 million in vital funds to support UK projects working on the frontline of the Covid -19 pandemic.
• Music video to premiere on BBC 1 The One Show tonight and will be available on YouTube from 8pm here.
A Welsh intergenerational choir has joined forces with the UK hitmakers Clean Bandit and Comic Relief to thank the public for supporting ‘The Big Night In’.
The Brynmawr Intergenerational Connect Choir has virtually recorded chorus vocals to Clean Bandit’s UK number one and global hit ‘Symphony’ alongside other community choirs supported by the charity. The choir receives funding from Comic Relief and is made up of pupils from St Mary’s Church in Wales School, older tenants of housing association United Welsh, and the community of Brynmawr.
The special version of the song will premiere tonight on BBC One’s ‘The One Show’ as a thank you to the public for supporting The Big Night In – a joint fundraising appeal by BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief which broadcasted a special night of television on 23 April. The appeal has raised £70 million so far to help projects across the UK working on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis.
The music is performed by Clean Bandit, with verses sung by leading UK recording artists including; Zara Larsson, Emeli Sande, Nothing But Thieves, Declan McKenna, RAYE, Becky Hill, Mahalia, Tom Grennan, Sinead Harnett and RAY BLK. The award-winning UK record producer, mixer and Ivor Novello-nominated songwriter Mark Ralph has produced the track.
Due to Covid-19, the choir are currently unable to physically meet but the children involved in the project have been sending messages to their older choir friendsat United Welsh and dropping off food packages. The children and older adults have also been phoning and texting regularly to keep each other’s spirits up.
Andrea Withers, Connect Facilitator for United Welsh said: “This difficult time has shown that the friendships built go beyond choir rehearsals - some of the children have also been going past older adults’ windows during their daily walks so they can wave and say hello to each other.”
Some of the stars from Brynmawr Intergenerational Connect Choir told of their experience of being part of the choir:
Alfie Danter Age 10- Member of The United Welsh Choir said: "The choir has helped me make new friends with older people. I love seeing all my new friends smile as this then makes me really happy. We sing, talk and have fun and listen to each other’s stories. I also enjoy learning and singing songs from the past that our older friends sang from when they were younger. The choir has given me more confidence to be able to talk to people of all ages.
Mabel Morgan Age 11- Member of The United Welsh Choir, said: "Being part of the Intergenerational Choir has helped and changed me in many ways. It has given the opportunity to meet and make new friends, such as my friend Eileen. We chat about what we have been doing on the weekend and we exchange gifts at birthdays and christmases. The first gift Eileen gave to me was a knitted ballerina because she knows that I’m a dancer. I was so touched that Eileen made this especially for me, since she hadn’t knitted for many years. She’s now taken up knitting again which is so lovely.
The music video will premiere on BBC 1 The One Show tonight and will be available on YouTube from 8pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6FoWCyEl4s&feature=youtu.be
Thanks to the generosity of the public ‘The Big Night In’ has so far raised over £70 million in vital funds to support UK projects working on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes projects that make a huge difference to vulnerable young and elderly people, people who are homeless or living in extreme poverty, women and families at risk of domestic abuse, BAME communities who are disproportionality affected by coronavirus, and those struggling with mental health problems, isolation and bereavement.
Find further details on allocated funding allocated by BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief: https://www.comicrelief.com/news/one-month-on-from-big-night-in-and-over-36-million-helping-vulnerable-people-affected-by-covid19/
Every penny donated to The Big Night In will go directly to our charitable work helping those hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis. HM Government will continue matching pound for pound donations to The Big Night In until 23 June.