This episode hears various project participants thoughts about the overall project, and hears from some of the songwriter participants about the challenges of collaboration. It also hears from Mags Bryan,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  talk about her experience of being in the project, sharing a piece of her creative writing and being involved in writing the song 'Here We Are.' Arranger Tom Bancroft shares his thoughts about the project and writing the anthemic arrangement of Here We Are which gave its name to the entire project.

You can watch the video of the performance of Here We Are at 
https://youtu.be/8hqCrWjrDM8

 HERE WE ARE (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Mags Bryan and Val Dijkman with Sophie Bancroft and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft 
Choir arrangement by Tom Bancroft 

Restless thoughts, restless skies, friends there to empathise 
Time to wander and breathe the air 
Lives woven day by day, crossing paths, we find our way 
Summer sun and winter blues 

Here we are walking together 
Here we are with stories to tell 
Here we are to share the message 
And sing out loud that we’re still here 

Nature’s song, time to sow, learn slowly to let go 
Live each moment to the full 
Friendships so long and deep, memories to make and keep 
Room to laugh and even cry 

Here we are walking together.... 
We are here, see our faces, hear our voices 
Tell the story, share the message, we are here 

Life’s a dance, set us free, speak truth with honesty 
New adventures every day 
Old age, a gift to share, more time for us to care 
Grow our wisdom, give ourselves 

Here we are walking together.... 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces.

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at
https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/