A FAMOUS choir who once topped the charts with their heart-rendering Christmas song have spoken of their delight ahead of a special performance at Winchester Cathedral.

The Military Wives Choirs, who rose to stardom after their song Wherever You Are was named Christmas number one in 2011, are celebrating their 10th anniversary with five concerts.

One of these productions will be performed at and live-streamed from the nave of Winchester Cathedral, hosting 160 members from 13 military wives choirs.

Member of the choirs since May 2012, Angeline Bowser, 45, said: “We are so excited and honoured to perform at Winchester cathedral for this once in a lifetime event.

“It’s also lovely to catch up with everyone again as I haven’t seen some of the women in a long time.”

On Friday, July 22, the choirs will be joined by Soprano, Laura Wright, at 7.30pm at the cathedral.

Laura, who has collaborated with the Military Wives Choirs since 2018, said: “I am thoroughly delighted to be singing alongside this amazing group of women once more."

The concert series will comprise of performances at five cathedrals across England and Scotland.

Concerts will also feature the talents of Conductor and Artistic Director Hilary Davan Wetton, and an ensemble of musicians, including Ambassador Sean Hargreaves and arranger Lucy Mulgan.

The Military Wives Choirs is a community of almost 2,000 members in over 70 choirs across the UK and worldwide. All the women involved have lives that are impacted by their connection to the armed forces who, through the choirs, are able to share friendship and uplifting experiences. This anniversary marks a decade of the registered charity supporting and empowering military women through music.

Angeline said: “The choir has been an absolute life line for me. I walked into my first rehearsal in Warminster with no friends and I left that evening with 30. I felt like I had come home.”

When Angeline’s husband who had served in the military for 23 years died in 2017, the choir was central in getting her back on her feet.

She said: “I was in a place of absolute despair but these amazing, amazing ladies really helped me with the healing process.

“They were absolutely fantastic. I received so much love and so much support.”

As both an independent charity and subsidiary of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, the Military Wives Choirs has the overarching aim to provide support to British Armed Forces and their families. 

The choir was also the subject of the semi biographical 2019 film Military Wives starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan.

Limited tickets for the in person event and livestream in Winchester are available now from the Winchester Cathedral website. In person tickets £18.75, livestream link £10.