Christmas single from Emmie Beckitt and Rick Wakeman

WELCOME A Star is the first single from 15-year-old Scarborough choir soprano Emmie Beckitt, in collaboration with classically trained pianist, composer and TV presenter, Rick Wakeman. Rick first met Emmie, who has been singing classical repertoire since the age of ten, at a fundraiser for Kids’n’Cancer – and was so impressed by her voice and effortless range that he decided to record a song with her from his oratorio The New Gospels. Released by Hope Records via Nova Distribution, the song features Emmie on lead vocals, accompanied by the Orion Orchestra, with Rick on keyboards, and the English Chamber Choir.

Currently studying for her grade eight exam in singing, Emmie takes part in the Senior School Chamber Choir at St Augustine's, Scarborough, and is also a member of her school orchestra and jazz band, playing tenor saxophone, violin and piano. When aged 13, she supported Katherine Jenkins in concert and a year later, appeared at Roy Wood’s sell-out show at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, where she received a standing ovation. She recently sang The Hymn, composed by Sir Tim Rice and Rick Wakeman, with an orchestra and choir, at The Sage Gateshead, as part of the Tim Rice Concert Series.

Both Emmie and Rick are patrons of the Chesterfield charity Kids‘n’Cancer and a percentage of profits from sales of the track will be donated to that organisation.

* Welcome a Star is released on Friday (Dec 4), in CD and digital single formats:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/welcome-a-star-single/id1052288010

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Welcome-Star-Emmie-Beckitt

Viv Hardwick