The Lanarkshire Choir Collective, a new initiative supported by Public Health Scotland, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, Go Radio and Foundry Creative Alchemy, will unite hundreds of singers from across Lanarkshire. The project aims to celebrate the power of music to support mental health, wellbeing and community connection.
Led by Musical Director Tommy Chambers
The project is being led by Tommy Chambers, Musical Director of SoundSational Community Choir, and forms part of the 2026 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. The collective will use choral music to promote understanding, compassion and hope.
Singers from towns, villages and rural communities across Lanarkshire will come together to record a performance of 'Sanctuary' by Jason Robert Brown, an uplifting work centred on safety, belonging and human connection during life's challenging moments. The performance will be professionally recorded and filmed, creating a lasting artistic legacy for Lanarkshire's choral community.
Special Concert at Hamilton Town House
The collaboration will culminate in a special concert at Hamilton Town House on Thursday, October 29, where each choir will perform its own repertoire and join together for the massed choir performance of 'Sanctuary'.
Tommy said: “This project is about so much more than making music. It’s about bringing people together from different communities, backgrounds and generations through something that has the power to connect us all. All choirs are collaborative by nature, so it’s a privilege to work alongside so many talented singers, Musical Directors and production teams. We all learn from one another, and together we can create something far greater than any one choir could achieve alone. Mental health affects every family and every community. If this project encourages even one person to feel connected, supported or hopeful, then it will have achieved something truly special. We are all incredibly proud to be part of this collaboration.”
Participating Choirs
The participating choirs are Arietta, The Cantabile Ensemble, The Farmers Choir, The Grace Notes, KC Community Choir, Motherwell Diocesan Choir, SoundSational Community Choir and South Lanarkshire Schools Choir.
