Risedale School pupil Mason Bassett had an incredible two days filled with music, collaboration and celebration!
This April, during the Month of the Military Child 💜, young singer Mason Bassett from Risedale School (7Dean) had an unforgettable experience filled with music, collaboration, and celebration with the Voices of Armed Forces Children Choir.
Recording with Legends
The journey began on Thursday 25th April with a recording session at the legendary RAK Studios in London. Here, Mason and his fellow choir members, aged 6-18, collaborated with the esteemed Chelsea Pensioners. This historic studio has seen the likes of Adele, Sam Smith, and Radiohead record their music. Together, they created a unique blend of voices by recording two songs which are planned for release later this year on the choir's upcoming album.
Celebrating Forces Families and Powerful Performances
The excitement continued the following day as the choir took centre stage at the Celebrating Forces Families Awards Ceremony. Hosted by Antony Cotton MBE (better known as Sean Tully from Coronation Street!), the event honoured the strength of military families.
The Voices of Armed Forces Children Choir delivered a powerful performance of their original song "Dandelion," which captures the unique experiences of military children. You can watch their performance on the BFBS Radio Facebook page HERE.
They further impressed the audience with two additional songs alongside the renowned Military Wives Choir.
Sharing Experiences Through Song
Mason began singing with the choir at Le Cateau Community Primary School and has continued since moving into secondary education at Risedale School. "My favourite part about the choir is meeting other Service Children and making friends. It’s great that we can share our experiences and support each other."
Due to the choir members being spread across the UK, rehearsals are typically held online with in-person gatherings reserved for special performances like this. "We were all really nervous before we went on stage, but the huge round of applause we received at the end was amazing!" said Mason. "I'm proud to be part of the choir and this is an experience I'll never forget."
About the Voices of Armed Forces Children Choir
The Voices of Armed Forces Children Choir unites children aged 6-18 from across the UK, representing all three branches of the military. Established by the charity Never Such Innocence, the choir is part of their Voices of Armed Forces Children project. This project empowers children of service members, both active and veteran, to express their experiences through various creative outlets, including songwriting.
Never Such Innocence played a crucial role in propelling the choir to the live semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent in 2022! Their memorable appearance saw them share the stage with the Service Children's Community Choir from Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.
More information and support for Service Children and military families can be found on our dedicated website page: Service Children.