Nordoff and Robbins, the UK's largest music therapy charity, is delighted to announce that the Queen of British Soul, Beverley Knight, will host the charity's annual Christmas Carol Service on Tuesday 12th December at St Luke's Church in London's Chelsea, leading the audience in singing a range of traditional Christmas carols.

Tickets are available from Nordoff and Robbins priced at £55, with donations encouraged throughout the special festive evening.

UK Jazz chart topping singer-pianist Joe Stilgoe will host the Carol Service alongside Beverley Knight, with BAFTA award winning broadcasters and vocal coaches Carrie and David Grant taking the podium to share the importance of Nordoff and Robbins' work, with more guest readers and performances to be announced*. The unforgettable, uplifting event is sure to raise the roof of the stunning church, while providing essential funds for Nordoff and Robbins' transformative music therapy services.

Supported by Hipgnosis Songs Fund and Hipgnosis Song Management, the star-studded event helps Nordoff and Robbins to continue to break down barriers through the power of music, creating space for some of the UK's most vulnerable children and adults to express themselves and find connection in society.

Beverley Knight MBE is one of the UK's best-known soul singers, an Olivier award-winning musical theatre star and a primetime television personality through ITV's Starstruck. With a career spanning almost three decades and hits including 'Greatest Day', 'Shoulda Woulda Coulda', 'Come as You Are' and 'Keep This Fire Burning', Beverley is currently celebrating her 50th birthday with new album 'The Fifth Chapter', and her biggest ever national tour.

Joe Stilgoe is an internationally acclaimed singer, pianist and songwriter. Growing up surrounded by music, Joe's career extends across theatre, TV and radio. He's a regular presence on BBC Radio 2, 3 & 4 and has worked with some of the finest orchestras and bands in the world. Joe has released nine albums, five of which topped the UK Jazz chart.

With music and the festive season going hand in hand, the Nordoff and Robbins Carol Service is a much loved annual event, and previous performers include Nile Rodgers, Sir Rod Stewart and Robbie Williams. Mince pies, mulled wine and plenty of singing are included in the ticket price, and the Nordoff and Robbins Community Choir, created to provide space for anyone, regardless of ability, to experience the joy of collective singing, will also be performing on the night.

Nordoff and Robbins' trained music therapists work with children and adults with extreme life challenges, including injuries, disabilities and terminal illness. In 2022, Nordoff and Robbins music therapists held 46,453 therapy sessions reaching 11,807 individuals throughout the year. The charity also worked with 359 partner organisations such as schools, care homes and hospices to provide much needed music therapy.

Beverley Knight said: "The first time I sang for an audience was aged four in church, so I'm looking forward to sharing the festive joy with everybody coming to St Luke's Church to support the wonderful work of Nordoff and Robbins. I was proud to present Gregory Porter with the Best Male award at the charity's O2 Silver Clef Awards earlier this year, and I'm glad to continue working with Nordoff and Robbins as I know the transformative power that music therapy has for those who need it most."

Sandra Schembri, CEO of Nordoff and Robbins said: "We're thrilled to mark the festive season with a musical extravaganza to celebrate the work that we do. Music helps to empower us, and for clients like four-year-old Emmie who has Down's Syndrome, sessions with her music therapist Nicky have helped her gain confidence – giving her the opportunity to express herself and develop her creativity.

"People like Emmie and her Mum, Lauren, are at the heart of everything we do and thanks to the money raised through this unique Carol Service, we can deliver music therapy to more clients across the UK, including some of the most vulnerable people in society. We believe that music is a superpower and we're so thankful to the wonderful artists that are performing this year, helping us to bring the joy of music to this spectacular setting."