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| Football fans to form 'Bantam of the Opera' choir | Football fans to form 'Bantam of the Opera' choir |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The fans will be taught to sing as a choir by the BBC Singers and Orchestra | The fans will be taught to sing as a choir by the BBC Singers and Orchestra |
| A group of Bradford City fans will go from singing on the terraces to performing as a choir for a BBC programme called "Bantam of the Opera". | A group of Bradford City fans will go from singing on the terraces to performing as a choir for a BBC programme called "Bantam of the Opera". |
| The fans - known as the Bantams - will be taught to sing to mark the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations. | |
| They will be supported by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, opera singer Lesley Garrett and sports commentator and TV presenter Chris Kamara. | They will be supported by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, opera singer Lesley Garrett and sports commentator and TV presenter Chris Kamara. |
| Their progress will be documented on Radio Leeds, with the Bantam of the Opera available on BBC Sounds from April. | Their progress will be documented on Radio Leeds, with the Bantam of the Opera available on BBC Sounds from April. |
| Bradford City legend Chris Kamara will be supporting the singing fans | Bradford City legend Chris Kamara will be supporting the singing fans |
| Bradford City fans have been known as the Bantams since 1908. It is believed to symbolise the club's fighting spirit. | Bradford City fans have been known as the Bantams since 1908. It is believed to symbolise the club's fighting spirit. |
| Kamara, who had a 20-year playing career and is also a former manager of Bradford City, is leading a call-out for singers to take part. | Kamara, who had a 20-year playing career and is also a former manager of Bradford City, is leading a call-out for singers to take part. |
| The broadcaster, who was diagnosed with the speech condition apraxia in 2022, has pledged he will perform with the Bantam singers at Valley Parade this year. | The broadcaster, who was diagnosed with the speech condition apraxia in 2022, has pledged he will perform with the Bantam singers at Valley Parade this year. |
| He said he had used singing to help him with his speech, wellbeing and mental health. | He said he had used singing to help him with his speech, wellbeing and mental health. |
| As well as being named City of Culture, 2025 also marks 40 years since the Valley Parade stadium fire, which claimed the lives of 56 supporters. | As well as being named City of Culture, 2025 also marks 40 years since the Valley Parade stadium fire, which claimed the lives of 56 supporters. |
| Kamara said: "This is an incredibly important year for Bradford, both the city and the football club. | Kamara said: "This is an incredibly important year for Bradford, both the city and the football club. |
| "The power of music can be enormous, singing is a great way to bring people together, whilst being so positive for mental health. | "The power of music can be enormous, singing is a great way to bring people together, whilst being so positive for mental health. |
| "Singing has always been a part of my life, even when times have been tough." | "Singing has always been a part of my life, even when times have been tough." |
| Lesley Garratt and Andrew Lloyd Webber will be encouraging the choir | Lesley Garratt and Andrew Lloyd Webber will be encouraging the choir |
| Bradford City fans are called the Bantams due to their club colours - and the fact that the birds are said to be tough for their small size | Bradford City fans are called the Bantams due to their club colours - and the fact that the birds are said to be tough for their small size |
| The programme title is a play on Lord Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, basted on the novel by Gaston Leroux. | The programme title is a play on Lord Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, basted on the novel by Gaston Leroux. |
| English soprano singer Lesley Garrett will also be involved in key moments throughout the year. | English soprano singer Lesley Garrett will also be involved in key moments throughout the year. |
| She said: "Wherever there is football, there is singing. The two go together like fish and chips, like Yorkshire pudding and gravy. | She said: "Wherever there is football, there is singing. The two go together like fish and chips, like Yorkshire pudding and gravy. |
| "Community singing is the way we bind together to express powerful shared passions and opera is the most passionate form of singing there is. | "Community singing is the way we bind together to express powerful shared passions and opera is the most passionate form of singing there is. |
| "I am so excited to see and hear what the Bantams can achieve musically, but even more excited to see the joyous and uplifting effect that music-making will have on their lives." | "I am so excited to see and hear what the Bantams can achieve musically, but even more excited to see the joyous and uplifting effect that music-making will have on their lives." |
| Fans interested in being part of the choir can apply online. | Fans interested in being part of the choir can apply online. |
| Bradford City Football Club have agreed to support the call out for singers with two community outreach events at Valley Parade in January. | Bradford City Football Club have agreed to support the call out for singers with two community outreach events at Valley Parade in January. |
| The first will be their home game against Walsall on 25 January. The second on Tuesday 28 January when Bradford take on Morecambe. | The first will be their home game against Walsall on 25 January. The second on Tuesday 28 January when Bradford take on Morecambe. |
| Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here, external. | Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here, external. |