The Choir of Royal Holloway and composer Thomas Hewitt Jones have released a new single highlighting the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on children and young people’s mental health. The charity single will raise vital funds for Save the Children UK; a charity that supports all children and young people to learn, grow and become who they want to be.
The Choir of Royal Holloway
The new single, ‘We can make it’ focusses on the mental health crisis faced by the young generation around the world today. One year on from the release of the anthem for kindness 'Can You Hear Me' - a collaboration between Rupert Gough and The Choir of Royal Holloway composed by Thomas Hewitt Jones with words by Matt Harvey - the composer, lyricist and choir have once again collaborated to release this important message. Thomas Hewitt Jones will be making a donation to Save the Children UK to further show his support.
A year ago, nobody knew that the global effects of Covid would still be so prevalent now, with a huge and lasting effect to global economies and mental health on a scale yet unforeseen. Although the UK's vaccination effort has been ahead of the rest of the world, many feel that the younger generation in particular have a long way to go in terms of their mental health, following such an extended period of enforced isolation. It may be a long road to recovery for them, and 'We can make it' is written in solidarity with all children and young people who are struggling at this time.
Rupert Gough, Director of The Choir of Royal Holloway, said: “When we put together “Can you hear me?” during the first lockdown, none of us imagined how long this pandemic would impact on our lives. Working with students, I am acutely aware of the longer-term impact this is going to have on the mental health of a whole younger generation. It seemed so fitting then to want to highlight these concerns in a new collaboration with Thomas and Matt. Due to current restrictions, our treble soloist recorded remotely, but it was a real pleasure to have our Choir back in the university’s chapel able to record this new piece together in person.”
Composer, Thomas Hewitt Jones, said: “This year has been awful for so many, and I think young people have been overlooked in terms of how the pandemic has affected them. I really wanted to capture this moment and extend an offering of hope to anyone going through a difficult time right now. Hopefully this single will speak to people and remind them that they aren’t alone.”
Unlike the previous single's remote recordings, the Choir of Royal Holloway sang together from the chapel of Royal Holloway, conducted by Rupert Gough. The choir is fronted by treble soloist Isaac Stott, who is in his final year as a chorister in Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum.
