Michelle McManus to feature on Choirs With Purpose album

We are delighted to welcome Michelle McManus on to the Choirs With Purpose charity Christmas album, in aid of MND Scotland and 10 other fantastic charities across the UK.

The Scottish presenter and former Pop Idol winner has announced that she will be lending her voice to the album’s lead single, a modern-day reworking of Sir Paul McCartney’s ‘We All Stand Together’.

The single will be the first song from an album of cover songs with an inspiring message of hope, involving 1400 voices from 12 “Choirs With Purpose” from across the UK.

Earlier this year MND Scotland was invited to take part in the project by the team at James Hawkins Music, who were behind the enormous success of Britain’s Got Talent 2017 finalists the Missing People Choir. They were inspired after seeing the youngest MND patient in Scotland, Lucy Lintott, on her BBC One documentary ‘MND and 22 Year Old Me’. 

After assembling a choir of people from across Scotland who had been touched by Motor Neurone Disease, the group then joined Lucy Lintott on Saturday 14th October in Glasgow to record their cover song, ‘Clouds’ by Zach Sobiech’. The song was specially chosen by Lucy and the track will be MND Scotland’s biggest contribution to the album. They will also join Michelle McManus and the other charities on the lead single covering Paul McCartney’s famous number.

McCartney has given the album his backing and has waived all royalties on his song which also features the German Film Orchestra, Babelsberg and violin by BBC Young Musician 2014 William Dutton. All profits from the single and album will be divided equally between the choirs’ associated charities.

Michelle said: “This is an incredible project and one with which I am very proud to be involved. We are living in a turbulent time, where building communities, hope and solidarity is so important, and what better way to do that than through song? The lyrics of ‘We All Stand Together’ will resonate with so many in 2017.

“I’m passionate about choirs having always sung in them, and hearing the stories from the singers in the Choirs with Purpose is truly humbling. Each one has a message and a commitment to share this Christmas.”

Each of the other choirs featuring on the album have recorded a cover song which encapsulates their message, recorded at various locations for ‘We All Stand Together.’

Producer James Hawkins said: “Michelle is a powerhouse and leads our epic choir with both strength and sensitivity. We are very proud of everyone who has taken part of the track and hope that everyone who hears it will download the album and help get our important message up the charts this Christmas.”

The single ‘We All Stand Together’ by Choirs With Purpose is being released on Friday 24th November. It is the first song from the album ‘Stand Together’ by Choirs With Purpose, which is being released on 15 December. The album is available for pre-order at www.pledgemusic.com/choirswithpurpose