On May 15th, Judy Collins, a Grammy Award Winning Singer and Songwriter, put a call out for contributors to the Global Virtual Choir which attracted submissions from professional and amateur singers around the world. Soul Symphony Choir was contacted directly and excited to support the cause. The moving video features over 1000 singers, including the likes of Alan Cumming, Judith Owen, Steve Earle, Madeleine Peyroux; and choirs like The Sixteen and the New York Choral Society. This beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace” reinforces the song’s unifying sentiment – a sentiment even more poignant now than it was when Collins originally released the track fifty years ago. Judy Collins said,
“Amazing Grace was written by John Newton in 1772, a man who evolved from a slave ship captain to the writer of powerful hymns, and changed his entire life, becoming a model for spiritual transformation… That’s what we need today once again. Stay safe, help others and pray. We will survive this with love and music and amazing grace.”
Judy Collins created a rich and bold masterpiece by joining her voice with choirs from different countries, including South Africa, India, Luxembourg and the United States. Collins sees the collaborative “Amazing Grace” project as a way for people to break the isolation of lockdown during the pandemic. ‘Amazing Grace’ has become a source of comfort during these unprecedented times. Proceeds from the song will be donated to the World Health Organization's Solidarity Response Fund.
Check us out in the Judy Collins and The Global Virtual Choir - Amazing Grace video