Robbie Williams and the LMA Choir have joined forces to create a special rendition of Christmas classic Winter Wonderland.
The star, who mentored the choir in 2018 on The X Factor, joined them for the performance of the yuletide favourite via Zoom.
LMA Choir, who became the first ever choir to compete in the live shows of the ITV talent contest, remained close with Robbie after the show finished, going on to share the stage with him at Wembley and Hyde Park, as well as appearing on his seasonal album, The Christmas Present last year.
And, after pledging to continue to back his act after they were voted off the show, Robbie became a co-owner of LMA, the media, music and performing arts institution where they were formed.
Their latest collaborations follows a heartfelt virtual rendition of Angels earlier this year, in which Robbie told them: “I love my scousers, love my LMA – love you guys, miss you. Hopefully I’ll see you soon.”
And, keen to offer his expertise to LMA students – which launched new, state-of-the-art campuses at London and Liverpool this year – Robbie recently hosted a virtual Q&A session with more than 800 students.
During the session, Robbie told everyone to “believe you’re a lion” and encouraged them to “think bigger…and then think bigger again”. Speaking directly to the students, he said: “Every one of you needs to know we are lions and we are braver than any fear. Fear thinks that it’s bigger than you but, you need to show you’re not scared of it every time and that you’re bigger and stronger than any fear can ever be. Think bigger than you ever have and then think bigger again. Without fear, you have no boundaries.”
During the lockdown period, LMA Choir also recorded a series of remote performances, each with their own meaning, including Simon and Garfunkel’s A Bridge Over Troubled Water in tribute to the NHS, and Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come in support of the global Black Lives Matter movement.
Stephanie Wallace-Carr, head of LMA Choir and creative director of musical theatre at LMA, said:
“It goes without saying that this year has been challenging and rocky for everyone in one way or another. As a choir, we missed seeing each other every day during lockdown and couldn’t wait to perform together again, so to end the year with a very special duet with Robbie – albeit virtually – is fantastic.
“More than two years after we left The X Factor, we still have an incredible bond with Robbie and we’re so grateful to be able to sing alongside him and hopefully, bring a bit of festive cheer to everyone!”
To watch Robbie Williams and LMA Choir’s latest performance, visit their Instagram page: @lmachoirofficial
