Monica to help cancer charity with comeback

A Motherwell singer diagnosed with cancer last year is to mark her return to gigging with a charity show to raise money for the hospice that helped her during her illness.

Talented soprano Monica McGhee will perform at her hometown’s Cathedral Church next Friday, April 6. In 2012, Monica was one quarter of the operatic group Amore who were signed to Warner Brothers. As well as a debut album, the group enjoyed many highlights including singing for the Queen’s jubilee and at the Royal Albert Hall Festival of Remembrance.

Since then, Monica has regularly performed with English National Opera and at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

However, at the start of 2017, Monica was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Thankfully, following successful surgery, she was given the all-clear later that year and was able to continue singing.

She marked her return to full health in the summer of 2017 by touring Scotland in the lead role of Leila in The Pearl Fishers, and she is currently working with Royal Opera House at Covent Garden.

In celebration of her recovery and as a thank you for the heartfelt support that Monica and her family received during what was a difficult time, she and her friends will provide an evening of operatic highlights next week.

The singer said: “This one is very special and very close to my heart after the last 12 months.

“My hope is that we can raise as much money as possible to help those facing illness who won’t have the same positive outcome that I was blessed with.”

The performance begins at 7.30pm with all donations and proceeds going to St Andrew’s Hospice.

The hospital is Lanarkshire’s only specialist hospice and provides multidisciplinary support for patients, their families and carers.

The service is provided completely free of charge for the adult population of North and South Lanarkshire and is open to all without distinction of race, gender or creed.

Admission to Monica’s gig is completely free, with the songstress only asking that those attending make a donation to help the hospice.

Recovery Monica McGhee will raise funds with her gig