Singers and choirs invited to contribute to charity single

A new international song of friendship and healing requires voices to join a chorus led by the renowned Scottish singer Fiona Kennedy.
Scottish singer, song-writer and broadcaster Fiona Kennedy on the clifftop overlooking Dunnottar Castle. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA WireScottish singer, song-writer and broadcaster Fiona Kennedy on the clifftop overlooking Dunnottar Castle. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
Scottish singer, song-writer and broadcaster Fiona Kennedy on the clifftop overlooking Dunnottar Castle. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

And, accompanied by Scotland’s premier orchestra, the RSNO, the virtual collaboration will become a charity single.

Singers of all abilities from across Scotland are invited to submit their own contribution to the iSing4Peace initiative, developed at the University of Aberdeen, which aims to bring choirs together at a time when performing is severely constrained.

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Fiona Kennedy, royal composer Paul Mealor and lyricist Grahame Davies have created a brand-new piece of music, Stronger for the Storm.

Fiona will lead a chorus of global voices with each singer or ensemble submitting their own contribution online. These will then be crafted into a charity single by Calum Malcolm, who has also produced albums for Mark Knopfler, Simple Minds, Big Country and The Blue Nile.

iSing4Peace was initiated by the University of Aberdeen’s Neil McLennan as a new form of commemoration. The charity single will be released to coincide with Remembrance Sunday – raising funds to support the Red Cross, The Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League (RCEL), VSA and the University of Aberdeen’s Development Trust.

Fiona Kennedy said: “My hope is that this new, beautiful song will bring many people from all over the world together with a common purpose during these continuing challenging times.

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“We’d love solo singers, choirs and ensembles to bring their own unique magic to #ising4peace and raise as much as we can for the four charities.

“We all know the world is in turmoil just now and charities are really suffering with the postponing and cancelling of fundraising events - this is one way we can all get behind these wonderful organisations by taking part, regardless of musical ability. Please join us wherever you are and give it a go!”

Paul Mealor, a professor in composition at The University of Aberdeen added: “This is an incredible project. Everyone involved has given of their time freely and ‘virtually’! The writing, the singing and the playing have all been done from everyone’s own home.

“I’ve never been involved in something like this before and didn’t know what to expect; but, you know, it’s been wonderful. Everyone has been so engaging and enthusiastic. And, a wonderful song and recording has already been born.

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“Now, we ask everyone to add their voices to our own, and truly make a song for peace which ‘sings’ in every language, through the universal language of music.”

Contributions should be sent to [email protected] by no later than October 11. More details on how to submit can be found here.