Western Morning News (Saturday)
G7 leaders to get a message in song from the children
TRURO Cathedral’s 35 choristers aged from eight to 18 are rallying schools and choirs from around the world to sing a new joyful but poignant song by Peter Hobbs and Sir Tim Rice, directed at world leaders as they gather in Cornwall in June for the 2021 G7 Summit.
An emotive music video has been produced, and over 13,000 voices have signed up so far from 18 countries to perform Gee Seven, which was released yesterday by Sing2G7.
Schools throughout the UK are already learning the song with numbers are rising dail.y By the time Summit begins on June 11, the organisers hope to have 50,000 signed up.
Cornish schools are leading the way with 80-plus already taking part and many learning the song already this week.
The Sing2G7 initiative, led by volunteers, is inviting young singers across the globe to join Cornwall’s children to deliver a musical message to world leaders.
The singers are being encouraged to learn, sing and share their renditions of Gee Seven. Free sheet music and other music teaching resources can be downloaded today via www. sing2G7.org and singers are invited to post their recordings of the song online using the hashtag #sing2G7 and tagging in @Sing2G7.
The organisers also plan a ‘megazoom,’ joining together for a global rehearsal just before the summit in June.
Sign-ups to take part range from individuals in lockdown and school choirs, to Brownie packs and a South African township choir. Other international sign-ups include singers in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Japan, Portugal, Malaysia,
Malawi, the UAE, South Africa, the USA and Vietnam. Over 130 primary schools in the UK are taking part, as well as 16 cathedral choirs.
In addition, free cross-curricular classroom resources on G7 agenda themes and leadership are available for schools in the form of an Edu-pack created by teachers at Sing2G7 partner Truro School.
A recording of the song by the Truro Cathedral Choristers was released by Right Track Records yesterday and is available on iTunes and all digital platforms. All of the choir’s royalties will be donated to UNICEF’s Give the World A Shot campaign: https://www. crowdfunder.co.uk/unicefs-covaxappeal/backers#start.
The Sing2G7 initiative is the brainchild of Chris Gray, Director of Music, Truro Cathedral and Esmé Page, Founder of the charity Cornwall Hugs Grenfell, who worked together in 2018 on the song Grenfell From Today which saw over 6,000 voices worldwide join in musical solidarity to mark the first anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Esme said: “My ten-year-old is frequently in tears over the plight of endangered species and feels powerless. ‘Who will listen to me, I’m just a child!’ he says. Our vision is that this song will amplify children’s voices, creating such a loud, united, joyful sound that their powerful message will be un-ignorableThe song, Gee Seven, is a gift from celebrated lyricist Sir Tim Rice and composer Peter Hobbs. Sir Tim said: “I wanted to write a song that is fun and toe-tapping so that children enjoy singing it.” Towards the end, the song shifts emotionally, ending with an urgent message to the G7 leaders.