A choir formed as a creative release for people experiencing mental health challenges are buzzing to be taking to the stage at the London Palladium to perform for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Bee Vocal will sing alongside award winning singer songwriter Emeli Sande at the Royal Variety Performance on Monday.
The choir was founded last year by musical director Dan McDwyer, psychologist Laney Craig, Coronation Street star Cherylee Houston and the the organisation TripleC, which runs drama and theatre based workshops for children, teens and adults with disabilities.
Dan has recently worked with and produced choir arrangements for artists including pop superstar and honorary Mancunian Ariana Grande.
He has conducted at major stadiums and arenas across the UK, leading choirs for the Rugby League World Cup and working with choirs for Blue Peter and BBC Children in Need.
As musical director he has worked on several theatre productions including Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, Cabaret, Witches of Eastwick and West Side Story.
The choir, who rehearse every Wednesday at The Bridgewater Hall and 53Two studios in Manchester city centre, had their first rehearsal last March and after just seven weeks of singing together they gave their first ever performance on May 22 2018 at the Manchester Together concert.
The concert commemorated the one year anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack, and coincidentally they performed Emeli's hit song Wonder.
Earlier this year the choir was invited by Prince William and the charity Heads Together to help launch the new #HeadsUp mental health campaign at Wembley Stadium.
They sang the anthem Blue Moon ahead of the City versus Liverpool Community Shield game.
Dan said: ""I am over the moon that Bee Vocal will be performing with Emeli Sande.
"As a huge fan of her music myself it will be a real honour to stand proud with the choir, helping to fight the stigma around mental health and proving that no mental health challenge can get in the way of performing to millions of people across the world."
And Cherylee, who plays Izzy Armstrong in Corrie, said: "I'm so excited to see Bee Vocal sing at the prestigious Royal Variety Performance. I have been incredibly privileged to watch these amazing people flourish as I know they will when they take to the stage with Emeli Sande."
