OUR PATRONS
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LORD ROGER ROBERTS OF LLANDUDNO
Patron and Founding Father Lord Roberts is a patron, sponsor and the heart and soul of COTW. The choir was his brainchild and having been a methodist minister in North Wales, a Peer for over ten years in the House of Lords and a humanitarian force to be reckoned with, few can claim to have a similar record in tirelessly campaigning on behalf of those less fortunate than himself. "I always remember the remark of the youngest choir member following the choir performing at the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod - "the best day of my life". The choir didn't quite come about by accident! The desperate plight of the Syrian people, continuing to this very day, led us to look for a way to help Syrian refugees - the government's response was less than we'd hoped for and a number of us wondered how we could help and bring a little hope to the lives of some from many countries. "Let's form a choir!" - a Welsh response! And a choir was formed with scores of folk from over 20 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe uniting to sing. They were joined by britons led by Becky Dell, the most inspired volunteer possible, as a musical director. The choir goes from strength to strength and sings at a wonderful variety of venues. Of all projects I've been involved in over many years - the Citizens of the World choir is a very special place!" |
EMILY WATSON
Patron
Emily Watson is a celebrated British actor and a vocal humanitarian campaigner. She has been a supporter of the choir since it's genesis, has run workshops with our members. performed along side us and has even contributed words for one of original compositions.
Click HERE to her BBC Sounds Loose Ends interview where she talks about the acclaimed series Chernobyl and Citizens Of The World Choir,
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Patron
Emily Watson is a celebrated British actor and a vocal humanitarian campaigner. She has been a supporter of the choir since it's genesis, has run workshops with our members. performed along side us and has even contributed words for one of original compositions.
Click HERE to her BBC Sounds Loose Ends interview where she talks about the acclaimed series Chernobyl and Citizens Of The World Choir,
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"It's like taking a bath in the opposite of hate". - Emily Watson
GULWALI PASSARLAY
Patron
Gulwali Passarlay is the author of The Lightless Sky, TEDX Speaker and award nominee. His acclaimed autobiography The Lightless Sky; A Twelve-Year-Old Refugee's Harrowing Escape from Afghanistan and His Extraordinary Journey Across Half The World, was published in 2017. Gulwali is also Politics major at the University of Manchester, and was nominated for the 2016 Nansen Refugee Award by the UNHCR.
Patron
Gulwali Passarlay is the author of The Lightless Sky, TEDX Speaker and award nominee. His acclaimed autobiography The Lightless Sky; A Twelve-Year-Old Refugee's Harrowing Escape from Afghanistan and His Extraordinary Journey Across Half The World, was published in 2017. Gulwali is also Politics major at the University of Manchester, and was nominated for the 2016 Nansen Refugee Award by the UNHCR.
Photo; Emerson
IAN SHAW
Patron
Ian Shaw is a highly acclaimed British jazz singer and musician and an indefatigable campaigner and hands on volunteer in the support of the Refugee and Calais Crisis.
Patron
Ian Shaw is a highly acclaimed British jazz singer and musician and an indefatigable campaigner and hands on volunteer in the support of the Refugee and Calais Crisis.
HERE ARE A FEW WORDS FROM IAN ABOUT COTW
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"I met COTW Choir [musical] director, Becky Dell, in the Calais unofficial refugee camp, known as 'the jungle' - a difficult, unpredictable microcosm - a unique and lawless community, marked by hurt, rage, hope, despair, love - and very often - music.
To watch the COTW Choir grow from this, endorsed by Lord Roberts of Llandudno - and to be a small part of a unique and ever-expanding new musical family, whose voices and spirits are equal, is an immeasurable thrill. Equal in song. Equal in world citizenship. We are all from somewhere else. And when you hear music as joyful, varied and moving as the COTW choir, that's a very good place to come from." |
Photo; The TRIC Awards
ANN MITCHELL
Patron
Ann Mitchell is a celebrated British actor, a vocal campaigner and advocate of refugee rights and a proud supporter of humanitarian organisations including TRAUMA FOUNDATION SOUTH WEST, a psychotherapy and counselling service for highly traumatised refugees and asylum seekers, of which she is also a patron.
Patron
Ann Mitchell is a celebrated British actor, a vocal campaigner and advocate of refugee rights and a proud supporter of humanitarian organisations including TRAUMA FOUNDATION SOUTH WEST, a psychotherapy and counselling service for highly traumatised refugees and asylum seekers, of which she is also a patron.
HERE ARE A FEW WORDS FROM ANN ABOUT COTW
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“I’m honoured to have been asked to be a Patron of the Citizens of the World Choir a choir for migrants, asylum seekers and their friends, the brainchild of Lord Roger Roberts, the Liberal Democrat peer of Llandudno
On a balmy night last June, I attended the launch of the choir at the House of Lords. To see so many men and women, some newly arrived from war-torn countries and some elders who had escaped earlier conflicts in Africa and Asia singing together, at first tentatively and then building in confidence under the direction of Becky Dell moved me deeply. In times of such darkness as the world is facing, to experience such joy and committment was uplifting. The atmosphere was one of immense joy and gratitude .. Everyone sharing their stories, their dreams and hopes for the future. As Sonia, a 32 year old from Iran said “We say to the world we are one, we are citizens of the world”. Proud to stand with them." |