Military WAGS Choir shine a spotlight on music in the community
10 March 2020 | Jill Lundberg | Posted in: Community
The recent launch of the Military Wives film was a special moment for teacher Dr Jane Scott, who not only sings on the film’s soundtrack but was also interviewed for a BBC Look North news feature that was aired on the opening day of the blockbuster movie.
At the choir’s rehearsal, the night before the film’s launch, presenters from BBC Look North and BBC Radio Tees came along to interview choir members and record them singing. In addition, BBC Look North attended the opening night and live streamed the choir. The choir sang numbers from their repertoire to the capacity audience before watching the film.
Dr Scott has been teaching at Richmond School for three and a half years and joined the choir in 2012, as a soprano one, when she was working for the Army as an instructor and then a manager for Army Education.
The WAGS promote music extensively in the community and have collaborated with Richmond School on a number of projects, at events hosted in the school and also at the Georgian Theatre. These have involved the theatre company, as well as musical groups such as the jazz band and orchestra.
Dr Scott and other members of the choir were invited to sing on the soundtrack as the Military Wives film is about the Catterick Military WAGS choir, which was the first and original choir. They were joined by members from other Military Wives Choirs around the country and recorded five tracks in one day, including a song that Robbie Williams has written especially for the film.
Dr Scott was chosen to introduce the trailer for the soundtrack which can be viewed at here
At the film’s London premiere, ten WAGS were invited to attend, together with Carol Gedye, the musical director of the choir from 2010 until last year. Mrs Gedye was initially approached by two Army wives with the idea of setting up the choir and that is how the phenomenon began. Mrs Gedye has a long-standing relationship with Richmond School as she taught here for a number of years. It was wonderful that she was asked to conduct the choir at the premiere. The film stars Kristin Scott Thomas and is directed by Peter Cattaneo, of multi-award-winning ‘Full Monty’ fame.
Dr Scott really enjoys singing with the choir and working on projects with Richmond School students. For her, the choir is not only about the singing it also acts as a great social gathering where the ladies are a strong support group for each other.