Choirs, performers and a poet will all be joining forces in Tamworth in Staffordshire to mark the centenary of World War One. They will be coming together to stage a special fundraising memorial concert in Tamworth's
St Editha's Church on Saturday 12 November when a new specially commissioned piece of music will be performed for the first time.
The project, entitled
We Will Remember, is the first event in a new Art in Unusual Spaces programme funded with the help of a grant from Arts Council England. The concert will feature the premiere of 'War Child', a piece of music composed especially for Tamworth by Sophy Smith and conducted by Dan Watson. The new music will be performed by Tamworth Voices, Tamworth Male Voice Choir, Tamworth Ladies Choir, Tamworth Arts Club and Flax Hill Junior School.

Tamworth choirs warm up for We Will Remember concert
Other performers during the evening will include the William MacGregor Primary School Choir, talented local singer Matilda Pratt, and Staffordshire's first Poet Laureate, Mal Dewhirst, who has written a new commemorative poem for the occasion. In addition to the original piece of music, audiences will be treated to a variety of songs from the past including Keep the Home Fires Burning, It's a Long Way to Tipperary, Pack up Your Troubles and Over the Rainbow. Members of Tamworth Arts Club will also perform a special extract from Oh What a Lovely War.
As well as marking the centenary of the First World War, We Will Remember will also raise money towards the repair of the clock on St Editha's Church which has not been working properly for more than a year. Half of the proceeds from the concert will go towards the clock repair fund. Councillor Joy Goodall, Tamworth Borough Council's Cabinet member for Environment and Culture, said: "The Arts and Events team has again come up with an interesting and exciting programme of events that will hopefully get the whole community involved in the arts.

St Editha's Church to stage WW1 centenary concert
"It all starts with We Will Remember which we hope will be a fitting tribute to honour the memories of those who lost their lives during the First World War, and in other conflicts since. Sophy Smith wrote an amazing and compelling score for Tamworth during last year's community production of Tigress and I look forward to hearing her latest work for the town being performed by local people."
We Will Remember takes place on Saturday 12 November at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and £8 concessions and are available online, in person from Tamworth Tourist Information Centre in Corporation Street, or from the Box Office on 01827 709618. A transaction fee of £1 is payable on all online and telephone bookings.