A COVENTRY gospel singer is celebrating after a successful launch today of her choir project that aims to give disabled people a chance to perform ahead of the Royal Wedding.
As we reported earlier today, Sandra Godley wants to assemble a choir composed of those who have suffered mental illness to perform ahead of the Royal Wedding.
Godley is calling all those over the age of 18 who have endured mental anxiety, physical disabilities or depression to find strength through song and join a nationwide ‘Gosp-Ability choir’ that could perform at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding on May 19.
The idea was launched today at Coventry Cathedral.
The event was aimed at giving a platform to those who might lack the confidence to sing on stage.
Many people turned up to sing and were given the support they needed to perform.
The project was launched live on air at BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and interviews were conducted with the Dean of Cathedral and members of the public who wanted to get involved.
Godley said: “Today was incredibly enjoyable but also very challenging. I had no idea how much this is going to mean to so many people.
“One stand out moment for me was listening to people just having a go at singing in the Cathedral Nave, all of them with their own story to tell of how they’ve overcome some of life’s harshest challenges.
“Another moment will stick with me; when a young disabled man was given the opportunity to sing on stage.
“He could only walk with great difficulty, his loving mum had to help him all the way to the microphone.
“He looked up, composed himself and summoned up the courage to start singing.
“He pierced the atmosphere with a song that left us all speechless.
“It was just electric – magnificent – for a lot of people, it brought a tear to their eyes.
“It was like an X-Factor moment!”
Godley added: “Another more mature gentlemen who was one of the staff at the Cathedral also wanted to join in.
“He just got up and gave it his all.
“He dared to step in and do something he had never done before and that was what today was all about.
“Singing breaks the outer shell that keeps us fearful of each other.”
She concluded by saying: “My quest to find my Gosp-Ability choir has begun.”
Godley was inspired by Prince Harry’s ‘Heads Together’ campaign.
The campaign is supported by the Royal Foundation and is a partnership with experienced charities that provide frontline mental health support to people who may need it, whilst raising awareness and tackling stigma.
Auditions for the choir are to take place in the end of March and Godley is hoping to enlist between 15 and 20 singers from across the UK.
Once the choir members are chosen, they will sing on The One Show, the BBC1 TV show, ahead of the wedding.
You can follow Godley’s project here: https://sing4sandra.com/
