A SPECIALLY composed ‘song for our times’ is about to be premiered by a local choir.

The Skipton Choir will unveil We Will Sing Again through a virtual performance on Friday, August 14.

The fundraising song was composed by the choir’s musical director, David Weale and his sister Rebecca Luetchford.

It will be officially launched - in aid of North Yorkshire-focused charity Dementia Forward - on YouTube at 10am on August 14.

Some 60 members of the choir, which has a number of members from Ilkley, and the wider community have contributed to the performance.

Everyone who took part recorded and submitted their individual part before the submissions were then digitally merged and edited to create an impressive ‘video concert’.

People from in and around the Skipton area, as well as choir members, were invited to take part.

The song’s lyrics reflect how important singing and music has been for many people during the long, lonely days of the coronavirus lockdown.

Proceeds raised through online donations will help Dementia Forward support local people who are living with dementia and those who care for them.

Mr Weale said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the outcome.

“The recording sounds amazing and we hope everyone who takes a look and listens to the performance will make a donation to the charity.

“Music is a lifeline for many people, particularly at the moment.

“And for those living with dementia their music memories are often unaffected by the disease in the same way as other memories. Singing can make a huge difference to their wellbeing.

“Given the benefits of singing for everyone, we also thought it would be good to involve the wider community with a song especially written for our times.”

Singers from local towns including Ilkley and Harrogate, along with some from as far afield as Hong Kong, contributed to the song.

The choir’s virtual performance will be available on https://youtu.be/Zt4vh-ML4dI from its launch day.

It will also be available on The Skipton Choir YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3ftfo2D.

Anyone who would like to support the project with a donation can do so by visiting https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/the-skipton-choir-community-performance.

The choir raised more than £3,000 for the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice at Oxenhope earlier this year by releasing its version of When You Believe - a song from the 1998 film, Prince of Egypt.