Choirmaster calls on B&R for festive help

The television favourite is embarking on a journey around the UK, bringing together musicians from local communities for his new album ‘A Great British Christmas’, which will be released on December 2.

He has been in B&R’s studio to record the track Paradise Street which will feature the vocals of the Kaiser Chief’s lead singer Ricky Wilson.

“I’m delighted to be bringing together musicians from all over the country for this new recording project, which offers and fresh take on traditional festive tunes and celebrates the unique sound of a British Christmas,” said Gareth who first came to prominence in BBC2’s series The Choir where he started a school choir from scratch and, in only nine months, made them capable of competing with the very best at the 2006 World Choir Games in China.

The programme gave birth to new singing groups such as the South Oxhey Choirs and the Military Wives Choir, who topped the charts with Wherever You Are.

Last year, his Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir swept to a shock victory over Justin Bieber for the UK Christmas No1 spot.

A Bridge Over You became a social media sensation, with even the singer supporting the single.

The choirmaster has been working with a variety of musicians in different locations and working with a host of singers, including the London Youth Choir, Belfast Community Choir, Birmingham Gospel Choir, plus the Invictus Choir.

The album will include a mixture of winter favourites, including the music to Frozen, plus traditional Christmas songs in new arrangements, and even a performance of Gareth’s own carol ‘A Child is Born’ – the first piece he ever wrote.