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I’m extremely honoured that on June 2nd, on Steve Wright’s show on BBC Radio 2, I was named as one of the five recipients of the inaugural BBC Music Day Unsung Hero Award for launching the community choir Victoria Park Singers in Hackney.
You can listen to the Steve Wright piece about the award here, and there is also a short film featuring my work with Victoria Park Singers on the BBC website here.
I flew to Glasgow to appear live on BBC’s One Show with Chris Evans and Alex Jones on Friday 5th June, alongside Lulu and Jamie Cullum. Watch the programme here (Unsung Hero starts at 19mins). Hannah and Jane Marlow (the alto who nominated me) were then whisked off to Glasgow’s City Halls to watch Radio 2’s ‘Friday Night is BBC Music Night’, a special gala concert hosted by Ken Bruce and Katie Derham, featuring the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra with an incredible line-up of artists – pop legends Lulu and Deacon Blue, Radio 2 presenter and jazz pianist Jamie Cullum, tenor Noah Stewart, violinist Jack Liebeck, Bhangra artist Jaz Dhami, Scottish folk star Claire Hastings, and harpist Catrin Finch.
Bob Shennan, Director of BBC Music, said: “Honouring music’s Unsung Heroes is a core part of what BBC Music Day is about, celebrating people, like Hannah, who make a big contribution to their community through music. Through the choir Hannah has forged relationships across her whole neighbourhood and it’s a pleasure for BBC Music Day to acknowledge and celebrate her efforts.”
I’m deeply flattered that my choir took the time to nominate me and everyone is really excited that I actually won, in fact it feels like we all won! Our love of music is what has brought us together and I have been very lucky with this choir – the singers are so enthusiastic, dedicated & get involved as much as they can. We have so many skills & talents between us; the choir is a real group effort resulting in something very special. Wednesday nights are great fun and we are all really proud the choir is receiving this attention.
BBC Music Day’s Unsung Hero has been a UK-wide search. People around the country were asked to nominate someone who they feel has had a significant impact in their community. A BBC panel compiled a shortlist from which the five winners were chosen. They will receive a BBC Music VIP Pass, giving them and their friends tickets to a BBC Music event from a selection which includes the BBC Proms In The Park, Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park and BBC Music Awards.
Related press coverage
Evening Standard 3/6/2015
Leicester Mercury 3/6/2015
June 3 piece (1)
East end life 6/6/2015
Leicester Mercury 8/6/2015
Hackney Gazette 17/6/2015
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