Laura Wright joins the Military Wives Choirs as our first female Ambassador
Eleanor Pullen • September 15, 2021
Today, Laura Wright, the well-known and much-loved British mezzo-soprano joins the Military Wives Choirs family as our newest Ambassador. Laura is no stranger to the Military Wives Choirs having collaborated with us during the development of our album 'Remember' in 2018. She wrote and performed one of the album tracks, 'Brave' and has supported us ever since. Laura’s long standing passion for singing is demonstrated by her winning the 2005 BBC Young Chorister of the Year at just 15 years of age. Since then, she has gone on to write and record numerous albums and perform at many high-profile events, including Her Majesty’s 90th birthday and the annual Invictus Games Opening Ceremony, for which she wrote and performed 'Invincible'.
Commenting on the appointment, Sir Andrew Gregory, Controller of SSAFA, The Armed Forces charity, said:
“This is superb news for the Military Wives Choirs, the women who sing in them, and the whole Forces’ community.
“Laura is not only a great soprano, but also a talented composer and has demonstrated her exceptional ability to capture the mood of audiences at major sporting and charity events.
“These talents and strengths will help her excel in her role as Ambassador, while bringing her, and the outstanding work of the Military Wives Choirs to new audiences.”
The SSAFA family includes the Military Wives Choirs, both an independent charity and a subsidiary of SSAFA, which supports women across the military community.
Richard Stringfellow, Musical Director of Windsor Military Wives Choir, said “The Military Wives Choirs’ mission has always been to bring women of the military community together to sing, share, and support one another—which seems ever more important amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic. We feel very fortunate to have Laura join us at this crucial time, and we’re very excited about what the future holds for us.”
We are all grateful and thrilled to have Laura onboard as our first female Ambassador, to continue our mission of offering support , trust and mutual understanding, as well as creating uplifting experiences and musical memories to be proud of. If you would like to learn more about Laura Wright and her new role as an Ambassador for the Military Wives Choirs,
click here.
Military Wives Choirs Bids Farewell to Hilary Davan Wetton and Appoints Joanna Tomlinson as the new Artistic Director
A Royal Performance to Remember
We are delighted to have received a letter of thanks from The King, expressing his appreciation for our new single, ‘November Sunday’, a song presented as an early birthday gift to celebrate His Majesty’s forthcoming birthday on 14th November. In the letter, The King said: “I am writing to express my warmest possible gratitude for your very kind early birthday present, in the form of your new single, ‘November Sunday’. While those of us of a certain age may feel the need for any such birthday celebrations is in inverse proportion to our advancing years, I am none the less deeply touched by your wonderfully thoughtful tribute. “I also wanted to thank you for your steadfast support not only for your loved ones serving in our Military, who sacrifice so much time away from you and your families to protect us, but also for one another. “Having sung in a choir myself when I was at school, I know the joy of performing together can create close-knit friendships and support groups, and I remain a firm believer that music has a unique power to unite and inspire us all. My wife joins me in sending you all our blessings and kindest wishes.” ‘November Sunday’, released on 1st November, is a tribute to His Majesty and reflects the strong ties between the Royal Family and the Armed Forces. The song’s evocative lyrics reflect the joy brought to post-war Britain on 14th November 1948, marking the birth of the future King and celebrating the enduring bond with his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.  The piece was recorded by 100 singers from the Military Wives Choirs, drawn from the network in the UK and overseas, alongside the magnificent sounds of The Band of the Household Cavalry. With music and lyrics by John McLaren, the track brings together the nostalgia of the 1940s, enhanced by the artistry of platinum-selling producer Sean Hargreaves (Sigala, Paloma Faith, Ella Eyre) and arranger Steve Turner. This cross-genre production offers both the formality of a military ensemble and a bright, pop-influenced appeal. ‘November Sunday’ is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube: all links to the project can be found here .
