ONE OF THE city’s best up and coming choirs and young boy with a roof-raising voice will provide the entertainment at tonight’s 10th anniversary celebration of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards.

Musicality, comprising students from the Angela McCallum School of Music, have some fantastic songs lined up, including Rise Up by Andra Day and the festive favourite from the film Elf, Sparkle Jolly, Twinkle Jingly.

“We have been honoured to have students singing at some of the other Community Champions events and they are always incredibly inspirational,” explains Angela.

“We picked Rise Up because that seems to sum up the event – it’s an incredible song.”

She smiles: “And we chose the song from Elf for some lighthearted Christmassy fun.”

Talia Webb, 16, will be the soloist for the choir and Angela says she is excited about the chance to sing at the City Chambers.

READ MORE: Glasgow's Community Champion Awards set to honour city's true heroes

“Talia was my very first student, age six, when I set up the school after returning from a musical theatre career in London,” says Angela.

“She is a fantastic performer and has done so well.”

She adds: “We are all looking forward to being part of Glasgow Community Champions – as a choir, we also do many voluntary events and fundraisers in our own community and it’s wonderful to see the hard work going on around the city. It’s going to be a great night.”

Also performing at the drinks reception will be Uddingston schoolboy Kerr James McCluskey.

The Muiredge Primary pupil, who is 11, has already wowed audiences at a diverse range of events, from the Evening Times Streets Ahead Awards to a King Tut’s showcase for young singers, with his incredible voice.
His mum Kirsty says: “He is so excited about tonight – getting the chance to sing in the City Chambers is amazing.

“He has always loved singing and we are very proud of him.”

Tonight’s Glasgow Community Champions Awards, supported by our partners Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow Housing Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland, pay tribute to the inspirational individuals and dedicated groups who work hard to improve their communities for all.

Battling it out for the Team Award are North East heat winners Fuse Café;  Glasgow South East Foodbank; and North West heat winners Cook n Care.

The three contenders for the Individual Award are North East champion Selina Hales, who set up refugee support charity Refuweegee; Marilyn Cunningham, who fought hard to save a local community hall in the South; and Drumchapel Foodbank volunteer, fundraiser and organiser Liz Atkinson, who won in the North West.

The Public Service Award finalists are Glasgow North East Foodbank, Family Addiction Support Service, which won the South heat; and The NHS Centre for Integrative Care Nursing Team in the North West.

The three finalists for the Uniform Service Award are Police Scotland’s London Road Problem Solving Team, from the North East; South champion and lifesaver PC Jacqueline Campbell; and inspirational campus officer PC Colette Farren, who won in the North West.

Glasgow Times:
Singer Kerr James McCluskey will also entertain the crowd

The Senior Award finalists are Anne Livesey, the 93-year-old convener of Springboig 50 Plus Club, who won the North East heat; Violet Robertson, who runs Govanhill Stroke Club; and Pat and Rae McCarthy, who founded the Primrose Club in the North West.

The Young Award will go to either Free Wheel North helper Habiba Amin or superstar volunteer Megan Johnston who jointly won the North East heat; South dance champion Bethany Donaghy or Abercorn Secondary School, who won in the North West.

The contenders for the Health and Wellbeing Award are North East winner Stephen Thompson, the Homeless Barber; The Macmillan at Glasgow Libraries South Team; and North West champions the North Glasgow Community Food Initiative.

The Sport Award finalists are Red Star Athletics, from the North East; Our Lady of the Annunciation Football Club, which has 90 members and 20 volunteer coaches, all working hard on behalf of local kids, from the South; and North West champions Glasgow Eagles, which supports young people who have special needs, mental health conditions and disabilities to achieve sporting excellence.

The final award of the evening – the Lord Provost’s Award – will be announced on the night.