Residents of Greater Manchester are being called on to open their windows and take to their doorsteps for ‘Together In One Voice’, a mass sing-a-long which will harness the power of music to connect their communities and bring them together in these challenging times.
Civic leaders are asking local people to join in the one-off event at 7:30 pm on Thursday 28 May that will see famous faces join locals in a thirty minute virtual sing-song from the streets of the city region.
The event will be live-streamed for audiences via YouTube as part of Manchester International Festival’s on-line programme MIF LIVE. Residents will be able to join their neighbours from their windows, on their doorsteps, and in their streets as they all sing along together to a special soundtrack of songs curated by Musical Director Dan McDwyer.
McDwyer will also be conducting a series of on-line rehearsals to enable people to come together and get pitch perfect in advance of the event and to learn the songs and harmonies. These will start from this Friday 15 May.
Greater Manchester residents who want to get their whole street involved can also nominate their streets to be filmed during the event for a special film that is being made on the night and that will be shown on-line a few days later.
Streets and residents wishing to be filmed on the night of the event can nominate their streets at togethermcr.com or by emailing contact@togethermcr.
Together In One Voice will capture a moment in time when communities across Greater Manchester come together for a shared activity that it’s hoped will contribute to people’s well-being and will help combat feelings of isolation, depression, and other mental health challenges.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “I am incredibly proud of the way people in Greater Manchester have responded to the current crisis – we have come together to look after each other, as we always do in tough times, and I hope we will be stronger and more together coming out of this.
“To that end, I am pleased to throw my full support behind the amazing Together in One Voice event. This one evening will unite Greater Manchester in song and give voice to the strong sense of community spirit we all feel. It will be an opportunity to remember those we have lost and thank those whose dedicated work has helped carry us through. I hope it will give everybody a lift as we begin to emerge from this challenging time and a renewed sense of hope for the better times that lie ahead.”
