Manchester prepares to honour those who lost their lives in the Arena attack one year on
Thousands will come together in Manchester city centre tomorrow to remember the 22 people who lost their lives and those who were injured in the attack at the Arena on 22nd May 2017.
Last updated 21st May 2018
Manchester's getting ready to remember the 22 people who lost their lives and those who were seriously injured in the Arena attack on the 22nd May last year.
Thousands will come to the city centre tomorrow to pay their respects at various events being held.
Choirs from across Greater Manchester - made up of more than three and a half thousand - will perform in Albert Square tomorrow evening as part of the "Manchester Together With One Voice" event.
Crowds will then join in for a mass sing-along for four anthems for what's set to be an emotional finale.
The songs for the finale have been confirmed as Ariana Grande’s One Last Time, One Day Like This by Elbow, Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis and Never Forget by Take That.
Among the participating choirs are Manchester Survivors Choir, a group made up people who were at the Arena on the night of the attack, mostly parents and children, and met through a social media network set up for those affected.
Parrs Wood High School’s Harmony Group, whose post-attack tribute went viral last year and Bee Vocal, the Manchester mental health choir composed of people who have experienced mental health issues and have come together to share the healing power of music.
A number of one-off choirs have also been specially created for the event including A City United choir, combining Manchester City FC’s Community Choir and Manchester United Foundation Youth Choir; a choir bringing together several Greater Manchester workplace choirs and an emergency services choir combining the North West Ambulance Service, Greater Manchester Police male voice , Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service choirs.
A youth choir will bring together children and young people from schools and organisations across Greater Manchester.
There will also be a performance from Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus and AMC gospel choir, with many other choirs contributing to the massed One Voice choir which will lead communal singing.
Manchester Together – With One Voice starts from 7pm with video messages before a short civic introduction before the choral performance gets underway at 7.30pm, with the mass singalong finale between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Having so many people united in harmony will be a powerful tribute to those who lost their lives or had them changed forever while attending a music concert. It will also be a demonstration of the power of music to bring people together in solidarity and shared emotion. We know people from Manchester, Greater Manchester and beyond will come together with one voice to share a message of hope and resilience.”
Anyone who can’t make it along to the Manchester Together – With One Voice will still be able to add their voices wherever they are. The singalong will be broadcast live on Key 103.
Between 2 and 3pm, there will be a national service of commemoration in Manchester Cathedral.
The service will be attended by families who lost loved ones, people who were badly injured in the attack, first responders, civic leaders and national figures including Prince William and Prime Minister Theresa May.
A national one-minute silence is being held at 2.30pm.
Bells will ring out from in the city centre at 10.31pm from the Town Hall, St Ann's Church and St Mary's RC Church (the Hidden Gem) to mark exactly a year since the moment when the attack took place.
For more information about all the events, visit www.manchester.gov.uk/mcrtogethe