New York, New York for singing star Paula

The bright lights of New York are calling for Lincolnshire choral soprano Paula Phillips this week.
The Waddington Military Wives ChoirThe Waddington Military Wives Choir
The Waddington Military Wives Choir

Paula has travelled to the USA with the Waddington Military Wives Choir to headline a performance at the world-famous Carnegie Hall on Friday, May 27.

Paula, who has worked as a customer assistant at M&S food hall in Marshall’s Yard in Gainsborough for four years, has been singing since childhood and joined the choir when it formed two years ago.

Her husband, Keith served locally in the Army for 24 years.

She, and four other members of the choir, are joining 125 representatives from the 72 existing military wives choirs for the concert at Carnegie Hall in New York when the city is marking Fleet Week, a Naval celebration.

The first half of the concert will see an orchestra and junior choir perform, followed by a second half entirely taken up by the UK military wives.

Welsh composer Paul Mealor, who composed for the Royal Wedding in 2011 and wrote the military wives hit Wherever You Are, approached the Plymouth Military Wives Choir about performing in New York.

They, in turn, offered the opportunity out to all military wives choirs.

Paula said: “It’s so exciting and I am so proud to represent all our military wives.

“The hall is a legendary landmark in music, and it’s a privilege to be asked to perform there.

“I’ve been singing since childhood and having suffered Breast Cancer in 2013 thought this is now my time to enjoy what I love most, singing.

“Waddington Military Wives choir was set up after Gareth Malone’ success on the BBC.

“That started off something big and there are now 72 military wives choirs across the forces.

“The philosophy was and still is to bring women together and support each other when husbands were being deployed.

“This is now extended to mothers, widows, serving and ex-serving ladies.

“That’s still very much the spirit and it is a great support network.

“Some people need that support, I love attending choir and singing at many venues,

“I have made so many friends and have had many experiences whilst singing with the choir, we sang at the arrival of the Canadian Lancaster in Coningsby and also at the Lincoln Poppy Gala last year,

“It is very humbling and very proud to represent our local community.”

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