Football clubs always say the backing of a passionate crowd on matchday is like having a twelfth man and terrace chants from fans are the thing of legend. But what impact could those chants have if they came from operatic singers?
BBC Radio Leeds is taking on the challenge! The station is seeing if a group of Bradford City fans, who are known as the Bantams, can be taught to sing opera, as part of the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations.
‘Bantam of the Opera’ will follow their journey as they go from singing on the terraces to wowing audiences with performances as a choir throughout the year, in the lead up to a big finale at the end of the year.
The world-renowned BBC Singers and Orchestra will support the Bantam’s choir during their development. Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, opera singer Lesley Garrett, and sports commentator and TV presenter Chris Kamara, have all also pledged their support to the campaign.
Away from the City of Culture celebrations, this is a huge year for the football club as it marks 40 years since the Valley Parade stadium fire, which claimed the lives of 56 supporters.
Bradford City legend Chris Kamara is launching the call-
Chris, who was both player and manager at the club, had pledged he will perform with the Bantam singers at University of Bradford Stadium this year. Chris has used singing to help him with his apraxia of speech, wellbeing and mental health.
He says: “This is an incredibly important year for Bradford, both the city and the football club. May 2025 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Valley Parade fire which claimed the lives of 56 football fans. Many people will have their own memories of that horrific day and will want to pay their respects, as will I.
“Bradford is UK City of Culture 2025 & as part of this exciting year BBC Radio Leeds’ Bantam of the Opera campaign encourages everyone to get singing. 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.
“During the onset of my well documented recent illness, Apraxia of Speech, although I suffered in silence for a time, I never stopped singing – in the shower, in the car, out walking. Music really can boost your mental health and is a gift which we all have, whether you’re tone-deaf or a pop-star. Anyone can blast out a tune, and that’s what makes this campaign so good. I’d love Bradford City fans to give it a go and sign-up to take part in the BBC’s Bantam of the Opera.”
English soprano singer Lesley Garrett, CBE, will also be involved in key moments throughout the year.
She says: “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.
“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.”
Katrina Bunker, BBC Head of Yorkshire, said: “Can you teach a bunch of passionate football fans to sing like a professional choir? We like a challenge at the BBC! It’s great that as part of the exciting year of culture in Bradford we’ll be following football fans from chanting on the terraces to learning to sing formally in a choir.
“It will be fascinating to follow the journey of these fans as they audition, train, rehearse and perform. A great example of how culture is about everyone, especially the people who make places unique. This will be such a fun and entertaining project and I can’t wait to see it come to life across TV, radio and online.”
Bradford City Football Club have agreed to support the call out for singers with two community outreach events at University of Bradford Stadium in January. The first will be their home game against Walsall on 25 January. The second on Tuesday 28 January when Bradford takes on Morecambe.
Bantam of the Opera will be available on BBC Sounds from April, so listeners can follow the story of the Bantam singers as they develop their singing skills.
To apply to be involved, go to bbc.co.uk/cityofculture
