Who are the Invictus Games Choir? And what’s their charity single?

28 February 2020, 10:07

The Invictus Game Choir performed at Classic FM Live
The Invictus Game Choir performed at Classic FM Live. Picture: PA

By Sian Moore

The Invictus Games Choir are recording a charity single with legendary rock group Bon Jovi, to help raise funds for wounded servicemen and women.

The Invictus Games Choir are collaborating with rock group Bon Jovi for a charity single, in aid of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games.

‘Unbroken’ will be recorded on 28 February at Abbey Road studios in the presence of the Duke, who posted a teaser about the recording on Instagram.

Read more: ‘What better way to commemorate World War I than through music?’ >

The choir produced their first bestselling single back in 2016, when they teamed up with choirmaster Gareth Malone to release the emotional ‘Flesh and Blood’.

They also made an appearance at Classic FM Live in October 2018, joining the massed forces of the Royal Philharmonic and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain to perform the world premiere of the Great War Symphony, an epic work written by Classic FM’s former Composer in Residence Patrick Hawes.

Here’s all you need to know about the choir.

Who are the Invictus Games Choir?
Who are the Invictus Games Choir? Picture: GarethMaloneVEVO / YouTube
  1. Who are the Invictus Games Choir?

    The Invictus Games Choir are a music group originally formed of 12 wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women from the Armed Forces.

    Choirmaster Gareth Malone founded the choir for the opening ceremony of the 2016 Invictus Games, documenting the two-month journey from their establishment to a spectacular performance in the two-part television documentary Gareth’s Invictus Choir.

    Since then, the group has expanded and, as of November 2017, has welcomed 50 wounded, injured and sick veterans, along with medically downgraded serving military personnel, into the choir.

    Through music and choral singing, the group endeavours to support participants in their recovery, with people of all singing abilities accepted.

    Who are the Invictus Games Choir?
    Who are the Invictus Games Choir? Picture: GarethMaloneVEVO / YouTube
  2. What was their first charity single?

    In 2016, the Invictus Games Choir delivered a moving performance in front of Prince Harry and thousands of people at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Invictus Games.

    That same year, they also released the charity single ‘Flesh and Blood’ with Gareth Malone.

    Read more: We played ‘would you rather’ with Gareth Malone >

    Together, the English choirmaster and choir collaborated to write the song’s lyrics, which speak of the injury, illness and recovery experienced by the singers during their time in the services.

    Gareth Malone, The Choir for the Invictus Games - Flesh and Blood