Leicestershire musicians record song for Help for Heroes

A group of musicians and singers from Leicestershire are set to feature in a new song recorded to help raise money for the charity Help for Heroes. 

The ambitious group recently travelled to London where they recorded their own version of the song Gloria in Londinium at the Abbey Road Studio, made famous by the Beatles, the Leicester Mercury reports. 

The recorded piece was composed by Leicester musical director Kathleen Shanks and is designed for release as a part of a fundraising album that is due to be released at some point in the new year. The track was originally written for the London 2012 Olympics, and performed by a children's choir.

Ms Shanks said: "In 2014 my publishers commissioned an arrangement for adult choir which was used during Prince Harry's 'Invictus Games' this September. 

“I recorded the song last Saturday, November 8th at the Abbey Road Studios. I invited 24 voices from the Leicester Philharmonic Choir and instrumentalists from Leicester Symphony Orchestra to join London-based musicians and pianist Steven Maughan.”

The recorded arrangement includes five different parts, such as a children's choir, and traditional soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices.

Pat Dobson, chair of the Leicester Symphony Orchestra said: “It was great to be invited down to the Abbey Road studios to record this version of Gloria in Londinium. We went down in a coach along with members of the Leicester Philharmonic Choir. 

“It was wonderful to visit the building which was opened by Sir Edward Elgar and see all the pictures of the artistes who have recorded there.”

It's hoped that the album benefitting Help for Heroes will be available in stores in January of 2015.

Elsewhere, Help for Heroes has outlined its plans for the future as part of a visit to a high school. Ian Baldry, the Worcestershire County Coordinator for the charity, visited a local school to inform pupils about the work the charity does for injured military personnel. 

He said £65 million would be needed to support the delivery and funding of services within the four Personnel Recovery Centres over the course of the next two decades.