When Warwick student and emerging creative Ire Albert first heard ‘Glory’ performed live by Rachel Kerr at House On The Rock London’s Crossover service welcoming 2023, it felt like heaven breaking in. The atmosphere in the church changed as Rachel sang. Her voice carried conviction and power that reached deep into the crowd. For Ire, that night became a moment of awakening. Music had always been in the background of his life, but in that instant it stepped forward and took hold.
Finding Purpose in Song
Soon after, as he began studying at the University of Warwick, Ire joined Warwick Gospel Choir. What started as simply showing up to rehearsals grew into something far more meaningful. This was when he began arranging vocals and discovering how music could bring people together. He realised a song could move hearts and create shared moments. where every voice mattered. Through this process he rediscovered the joy of making music as an act of faith and a way to build community. Each performance became an experience that resonated far beyond the stage.
By April 2024, Ire had become Music Director of Warwick Gospel Choir, a role that allowed him to combine creativity and worship. He had learned just a month earlier at UGCY that Rachel Kerr was also a Warwick alumna, and it felt like a quiet confirmation from God. Remembering the night he first heard ‘Glory’, Ire felt compelled to bring it to the choir. He arranged and taught it for Warwick Gospel Choir’s first major performance under his direction, Afropraise Night. Being the final song in his set, Glory sparked an electric response. The performance became a moment of ministry, bringing the audience together in faith and emotion and concluding with a standing ovation. The song filled the room with spirit and emotion, reminding everyone of the power of gospel music to move hearts.
Recording the Moment
After his role ended in April 2025, Ire still felt his journey with ‘Glory’ was far from complete. That same month, he brought the choir into the Warwick Arts Centre Studio to record a new version of the song. The sessions ran through June and were filled with focus and fun. Each rehearsal and take became an opportunity to explore the emotion of the piece, shaping a sound that honoured Rachel Kerr’s original while allowing the choir’s energy and Ire’s vision to shine through.
The result is a mass choir version of ‘Glory’ that feels both powerful and deeply personal. Rich harmonies rise over a soaring instrumental, creating a sound that is immersive and alive. Every note carries intention, capturing the spirit of a new generation of worshippers while remaining true to the heart of the song that first inspired him. The recording celebrates both the communal energy of the choir and the individual expression of faith, turning the track into an experience that resonates long after the music ends.
A Full Circle Moment
Set for release on 5 November 2025, the single marks Ire’s debut as an arranger and recording artist. More than a cover, it is a celebration of faith and community. It represents the moment when inspiration became reality and when a song that once moved him began to move through him.
‘Glory’ is more than Ire’s debut. It is a full circle moment, a song that once moved him from the pews now reborn through his own voice and vision. What began as inspiration has become an offering, a reminder that when faith and music meet, something eternal is created.
“Both this song and this project reminded me that gospel music is so much more than just a genre, it’s a vessel for God’s presence. Recreating this excellent song was truly an experience, and I pray it reaches people in ways words never could,” says Ire. “I simply wanted to give Glory to God in the highest.”
