Choir of the Earth to Unveil Global Musical Tribute to Sub-postmasters
Choir of the Earth is set to premiere a unique and powerful rendition of Queen’s We Are The Champions in a heartfelt tribute to the sub-postmasters affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal.
The global online event will take place on Tuesday 23 April 2024 at 17:00 UK time, marking the third anniversary of the pivotal day when the Court of Appeal overturned the first of many wrongful convictions associated with the scandal.
The Post Office Horizon scandal has recently received media attention as one of the largest miscarriages of justice in the UK. More than 900 sub-postmasters were falsely accused of theft and fraud due to faults in the Post Office's Horizon accounting system, resulting in devastating effects on their lives, including imprisonment, financial ruin, and severe personal hardships.
In February 2024, Choir of the Earth launched the 'Sing for Sub-postmasters' project, led by Musical Director, Ben England BEM. The project was open to both members and non-members of the Choir, from the UK and beyond, with singers of all levels lending their voices to raise awareness of the sub-postmasters' story and demonstrate solidarity and support through music.
The choice of song for the project was inspired by Freddie Mercury's lyrics at the beginning of Queen's rock anthem: "I've paid my dues time after time; I've done my sentence but committed no crime.”
Mark Strachan BEM, Founder of Choir of the Earth, expressed his motivation for the initiative:
The injustice suffered by the sub-postmasters is felt by us all and we wanted to provide a way to unite everyone across the country and show our support. As an online choir with many hundreds of members, Choir of the Earth is well positioned to offer a way to come together by singing this iconic song with words which describe their plight almost perfectly.
Ben England BEM, Musical Director, is excited about the project's impact:
This new recording of Queen’s classic track is sung by hundreds of passionate supporters of the sub-postmasters, and sounds amazing. We can’t wait to unveil it to the world!
Ben will present this special concert performance via a livestream on Choir of the Earth’s YouTube channel and is open to all, ensuring that as many people as possible can join in this significant event. This online premiere aims to celebrate the courage and resilience of the sub-postmasters and continue drawing attention to their ongoing struggle for justice. It can be watched live or later at: https://youtu.be/_qxz6TbPjyU
Choir of the Earth is also supporting the Horizon Scandal Fund through this project, which provides important financial aid to support those affected. Singers paid £5 to participate and net proceeds will be donated to the Fund. Those attending the premiere are also invited to donate to the Fund directly via its website at horizonscandalfund.org.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
All media queries and requests for interviews with Ben or Mark should be emailed to Nikki Chilton, Head of Communications.
About Choir of the Earth:
Choir of the Earth is a global online choir dedicated to excellence in choral teaching and the power of singing in bringing people together. It was founded in March 2020 by Mark Strachan BEM from Sherborne, Dorset, alongside Musical Director Ben England BEM from Bristol. The Choir has since engaged thousands of singers, who have taken part in more than 70 courses and recorded over 400 tracks from their homes around the world. Further information about Choir of the Earth is available at choiroftheearth.com.Follow Choir of the Earth on social media: