Choral comrades stand together as husbands serve in AfghanistanDate: September 11, 2012
By Maggie Barry
Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, UK -- THERE was scarcely a dry eye in the house as the last notes from the Military Wives choir soared and faded above the packed audience in London’s Royal Albert Hall. Joanne McMurdo, whose husband was serving in Afghanistan, watched with a lump in her throat. Then she came up with the idea to create a choir in Scotland that would give military wives north of the Border the same emotional outlet.
Now, just six months later, Joanne, from Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, and 30 of the choir she set up will travel south to record their contribution to this year’s Military Wives album, Stronger Together. From the original three MW choirs, there are now 40 worldwide including in Cyprus and Germany. What the West of Scotland’s contribution will be remains a secret but they will have at least two tracks on the new album out for Christmas. It’s an incredible opportunity for Joanne and the rest of the girls, most of whom had never sung professionally and didn’t know each other. |