UK's First Youth Reggae Choir To Perform At The Coronation Concert

Leeds youth choir, Reggae Roots, has been selected to perform for King Charles as part of the Coronation Choir. The 300-strong Coronation Choir will be a key part in the Coronation Concert, taking place on the second day of coronation celebrations on Sunday 7th May. The concert will be staged on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle and is set to feature the Coronation Choir and stars including Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

The Coronation Choir is bringing together singers from across the UK, including refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs. Reggae Roots will feature in the BBC’s documentary Sing For The King: The Search for the Coronation Choir – telling the story of how the choir was assembled.

Reggae Roots provides young people with space outside of school to be creative, perform and improve their mental health and wellbeing through music. The Reggae Roots Choir recently performed live at the closing event of The World Reimagined at The Tetley. Reggae Roots is supported by two local Leeds charities, the Geraldine Connor Foundation and Music House.

Selina McGonagle, Director of the Geraldine Connor Foundation, commented:
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for are young people. To be given this chance to perform to a live audience of thousands, set to be seen by a UK and global audience of millions, will be life changing.

“Taking part in this momentous celebration, will give the young members of the choir a real-world experience of large-scale performance events. Many members of Reggae Roots will hope to one day have a career in the performing arts, and this experience will be a great catalyst.

“When the Geraldine Connor Foundation team submitted Reggae Roots for consideration in the Coronation Choir this January, we didn’t expect just a few short months later we’d be getting bags packed for Windsor! They will do Leeds proud.”

Nick Wayne, Trustee of Music House, added:

“Working with the young people in Reggae Roots over the past months has been a joy and a privilege. Their commitment and enthusiasm ties in beautifully with the ethos and charitable aims of Music House, and for them to be selected to sing for the King at the Coronation Concert is a testament to each and every one of them and the teams at the Geraldine Connor Foundation and Music House.

“Music House aims to provide music and singing lessons as well as the participation in, and appreciation of music and singing, to everyone, irrespective of their ability to pay or their physical or mental capabilities.

“The Reggae Roots project is a perfect manifestation of what Music House is all about and we are proud to be a part of their success.”