London Oriana Choir - 50th Anniversary Season

LONDONORIANACHOIRCELEBRATESGOLDEN ANNIVERSARYWITH50YEARSOFSONG

LondonOrianaChoiriscelebratingthemilestoneofits50thanniversarywithabumper action-packedyearthattouchesonallaspectsofwhatmakesthischoirstandoutfrom thecrowd.

Thisleafletfocusesonourconcertprogrammefortheseasonandhighlightsinclude:

•Anewcommissionfromthechoir’spatronandcelebratedcomposerCecilia McDowall

•AseasonlaunchconcertatStPaul’sCoventGarden,twopotentialsell-outChristmas concertsatStJames’sPiccadilly,agalaconcertwithspecialguestsatStJohn’sSmith SquareandasummercollaborationatUnionChapelHighbury

•Two-timeGrammynomineeBethNielsenChapmanmakingaspecialappearanceat thegalaconcertinMarch,recreatingaseminal2006performancewiththechoirat StPaul’sCathedral

•Award-winningBritishvocalensembleTheGesualdoSixperformingEricWhitacre’s seminalmulti-choirwork,TheStolenChild,atUnionChapelinJuly

•Musicspanningathousandyears,crossingcontinentsandgenres

MusicaldirectorDominicEllis-Peckhamsays“Iamimmenselyproudtobeleadingthis choirintoitssecondhalfcentury.Duringthisdynamicseason,wewillcertainlybe celebratingthepast50yearsbutwillalsohaveoureyesfixedfirmlyonthefuture.The natureofthischoiristhatwearealwayslookingtomoveforwardwithour programming,partnersandperformances.Ican’twaittoseewhatthenext50yearswill bring.”

Inadditiontoourconcertschedule,thechoirisalsoplanning:

•ToursoutsidethecapitaltoLiverpool,HarwichandParis

•Adocumentaryfilmcoveringandcelebratingthechoir’sfirst50years

•CommercialhireswhichincludeFinalFantasyXIVattheEventimApollo

•AlumnieventssuchasaCome&Sing:Mozart’sCoronationMassatStJohn’sWaterloo andaworkshopwithTheGesualdoSix

•MonthlysocialeventswhichkickoffwithaSoundofMusicsingalongatthePrince CharlesTheatreinLeicesterSquare

•Thethirdyearofthechoir’sYoungSingersChoralScholarshipProgramme

•AseasondedicatedtoraisingfundsforMusicforDementia,makingadifferenceto peoplelivingwithdementiaandtheirfamilies

Thechoir’sbiographytowardstheendoftheleafletgoesintomoredetailofLondon OrianaChoir’scolourfulhistorysincethatveryfirstrehearsalon14thNovember1973at aschoolinEdgware.Thechoirhascomealongwaysincethen.Wewillcertainlybe celebratingthepastthisseasonbutwillalsohaveoureyesfixedfirmlyonthefuture.We can’twaittoseewhatthenext50yearswillbring.

ChoralIcons

London:Saturday4November2023,7:30pm StPaul’sChurch,CoventGarden,WC2E9ED

LiverpoolTour:Saturday11November 2023,1:30pmat LiverpoolCatholic Cathedral, 7:30pmat LiverpoolParish Church andSunday12November2023, 1:00pmat StLuke’sBombedOutChurch

Aspecialchoralcelebrationasthechoir celebratesits50thAnniversarywitha performancededicatedtochoralicons fromacrosstheagesfeaturingBenjamin Britten,CeciliaMcDowall,SirJohn Tavener,GustavHolst,SirJames MacMillan,EriksEsenvalds,Felix Mendelssohn,HildegardvonBingen, DobrinkaTabakova,AntonioLottiand manymore.

Thechoir'sfirstself-promotedconcertatStMartin-in-the-Fields1975

FROMTHEARCHIVE

London:Saturday9andFriday15

December2023,7:30pm

StJames’sPiccadilly,197Piccadilly,W1J9LL

JoinLondonOrianaChoirforthereturn oftheircriticallyacclaimedChristmas performances,featuringtheChoirofSt George’sSchoolHarpendenandahost ofwell-lovedaudiencecarolsandfestive musicfromSirDavidWillcocks,Sally Beamish,JonathanRathbone,Mykola Leontovich,KennethLeighton,John Rutter,BobChilcott,TaraMackand manymore.

Specialguests: ChoirofStGeorge's School,Harpenden

Organist:BenComeau

CandlelightCarols FROMTHEARCHIVE

AttheBarbicanin1987

50YearsofSong

London:Friday15March2024,7:00pm StJohn’sSmithSquare,SmithSquare, SW1P3HA

Essex:Sat27April2024,7:00pm, StNicholasChurch,67ChurchStreet, Harwich,CO123DR

Thecentrepieceofthechoir's50thanniversary yearwithveryspecialguestsandtheworld premiereoftheanniversarycommissionfrom choirpatronCeciliaMcDowall.Thisunique performancebringstogethertheverybestof50 yearsofconcertrepertoirefeaturingTomásLuis deVictoria,GiovanniGabrieli,AntonioLotti, ThomasTallis,RichardAllain,EriksEsenvalds, EricWhitacre,JocelynHagen,MichaelTippett, JessicaCurryandmanymore.BethNielsen Chapmanwillbejoiningthechoironstageto recreatepartoftheirseminal2006 performancewithheratStPaul’sCathedral.

BethNielsenChapman

BethNielsenChapmanisanAmericansinger-songwriter,whosediversebodyofworkspans fifteenalbumsandseven#1hits,includingcompositionsthathavebeenrecordedbyEltonJohn, BonnieRaitt,BetteMidler,WillieNelson,NeilDiamond,theIndigoGirls,andKebMo’andher musichasbeenfeaturedinfilmandTV.ThisKiss,ASCAP'S1999SongOfTheYear,sungbyFaith Hill,garneredheraGrammynomination.AlsonominatedforaGrammyin2012forTheMighty Sky,shewasNashvilleNAMMY'S1999SongwriteroftheYearandinductedintotheSongwriter’s HallOfFamein2016.Havinglostherfirsthusbandtocancerin1994,Chapmansurvivedbreast cancerherselfin2000andabraintumourin2009soinherconcerts,workshops,andKeynotes, shedrawsfromdirectexperienceinherinspiringpresentationsaboutthefascinatingdance betweencognition,healingandthecreativeflow.Hersongstakeyouonajourneythroughthe depth,humourandthewonderoflife.

Beth,anambassadorfortheBuddyHollyFoundation,has taughtsongwritingandcreativityMasterClassesat universitiesinternationallyincludingtheRoyalScottish AcademyofMusic&Drama,TheLiverpoolInstituteof PerformingArts,andtheBerkleeSchoolofMusicamong others.

Beth’slatestalbumis“CrazyTown”producedbyRayKennedy onCookingVinyl.

Insta:@beth_nielsen_chapman

Twitter:@bncmusic

https://bethnielsenchapman.com

https://www.bncmasterclasses.com

Limitless

London:Saturday18May2024,1:00pm

OurMostHolyRedeemer,24Exmouth Market,EC1R4QE

Paris:Friday24-Monday27May2024

Asthechoir’s50thAnniversarySeason continues,theyvisitExmouthMarket andtheeclecticsettingofOurMostHoly RedeemerinClerkenwellfora programmedevotedtothelimitless possibilitiesofchoralensembles.With musicstretchinggenres,centuriesand cultures,LondonOrianaChoiroffera rousingprogrammeofmusicfromHaiti, Malaysia,Brazil,France,SouthAfrica andmanymore.

FROMTHEARCHIVE

JoytotheWorld,RoyalAlbertHall,1991

TheGesualdoSix

TheGesualdoSixisanawardwinningBritishvocalensemble comprisingsomeoftheUK’sfinest consortsingers,directedbyOwain Park.Formedin2014fora performanceofGesualdo’s TenebraeResponsoriesin Cambridge,theensemblehas goneontoperformatnumerous concerthallsandmajorfestivals acrosstheUK,Europeandaround theworld.Amongstother recordings,mostrecently,they releasedtheirseventhdisc celebratingthe400thanniversary ofWilliamByrd,titled“Byrd:Mass forfivevoices”.Thegroup integrateseducationalworkinto itsactivities,regularlyholding workshopsforyoungmusicians andcomposers.

TotheWaters andtheWild

London:Thursday4July2023,7:30pm UnionChapel,19bComptonTerrace, N12UN

Multi-awardwinningTheGesualdoSix joinLondonOrianaChoirintheirfinal 50thanniversarycelebrationsfora concertheraldingthefuture,featuringa collectionofboldandbeautifulchoral settingsincludingCeciliaMcDowall,Bob ChilcottandErrollynWallen,withthe rarelyperformedEricWhitacrework,The StolenChild,asitscentrepiece.

LondonOrianaChoir

LondonOrianaChoirisoneofBritain’sleading choralgroupsandoneofthemostexcitingand versatileinLondon.Foundedin1973andunder thebatonofDominicEllis-Peckhamsince2013, thechoirhasgonefromstrengthtostrength, performingmusicfromclassicalbaroquetoclassicrockatvenuessuchastheO2Arena,StMartin-in-the-FieldsandtheRoyalAlbertHall,with broadcastsonBBCRadio3,BBCRadio4and ClassicFM.

TheChoir’srepertoireisbroad,rangingfromthe greatchoralworksbyVerdi,Mozart,Handeland Bachtocontemporarycommissions,sunginmanylanguagesandinallstylesfromearlyRenaissance tothepresentday,fromseculartosacred,classicaltojazzandincludingpopular,folkandvideo gamemusicfromaroundtheworld.

Eachyearisamixofself-promotedconcertsandprofessionalcollaborationswithtoursintheUKand Europe.Overtheyears,thechoirhascriss-crossedthecontinentfromWinchestertoEdinburghand BathtoNorwichaswellasStPetersburgtoLisbonandDublintoKyiv.

Highlightsofthelast50yearsinclude:

FirstrehearsalatGatewaySchool,LondonNW1

Thechoir’sfirstself-promotedconcert:BachStJohnPassionatStMartinintheFields Carols&CrumhornsinCentralHallWestminster:thechoir's'earlymusic'themedChristmas Concert-apopularannualeventuntil1985

Thechoir’sfirstoverseastour:Boulogne&Montreuil-sur-Mer,participatingintheFestivalde laCoteOpal

FirstpromotionintheRoyalFestivalHall:Bach'sChristmasOratorio

ThefirstofseveralvisitsasResidentchoirintheMusicFestivalinAixenProvence

FirstconcertintheBarbican:BrahmsEinDeutschesRequiem

AbbeyRoadStudiorecording'backing'forChariotsofFiretrackforoneofRPO's'Classic Rock'recordings

'HomeonSunday'recordingbytheBBCforLordSoper's80thBirthdayatHindeStMethodist Church

Thestartof10yearsofjoiningthecastoftheannualtelevisedJoytotheWorldcharityevent attheRoyalAlbertHall,whereQueenElizabethIIrecordedher1989Christmasmessage

FirstoftwovisitstotheStrasbourgFestival:Mozart'sRequiemconductedbyTheodore Guschelbauer

PerformedinEarl'sCourtArenaamongstthe'massedchoir'inHMTheQueen's40thAnniversary'Q40'eventwithhighlightsbroadcastonBBC-TV.

ParticipatedinVJDay50thAnniversary'FinalTribute',Horseguards'Parade,andoutside BuckinghamPalace,inthepresenceofHMTheQueenandPrincePhilip;

EvensongforPeaceatStPaul’sCathedralwithAmericansinger-songwriterBethNielsen Chapman,thefirstofanumberofenjoyablecollaborationswithBeth

WorldpremiererecordingofArmstrong-Gibb'sOdysseuswiththeBBCConcertOrchestra, releasedontheDuttonEpochlabel

SingingattheopeningofthewinterseasonofDisneylandParis

SingingintheSundaymorningserviceatNotreDameinParisforthefirsttime

ReleaseofourrecordingofRichardRodneyBennett'sNonsenseSongs,stilltheonlysuch recording

ReleaseofourrecordingofEverymanbyWalfordDavieswiththeBBCConcertOrchestraon DuttonRecords,whichbecameanEditor'sChoiceinGramophoneMagazine

ServiceforPeaceatStPaul'sCathedralinLondonwithBethNielsenChapman,followedby aconcertinGlasgowaspartofCelticConnections

ReleaseofourrecordingofOdysseusbyArmstrongGibbsonDuttonRecords

PerformingwithRobertPlant,BethNielsenChapman,DavidGrayandNewtonFaulknerat AbbeyRoadStudiosforSound&Vision2010inaidofCancerResearchUK,followedbythe BBC'slasteverElectricPromsattheRoundHouseinLondonwithRobertPlantandtheBand ofJoy

TakingpartinaTEDxtalkentitledSingingfromtheSameHymnSheetorganisedbythe HousesofParliamentattheQEIIConferenceCentre,givenbythenMusicalDirectorDavid Drummond

TwonightsatLondon's02ArenawithBarbraStreisandtoanaudienceof20,000+each night

PremiereofClassicQuadropheniaattheRoyalAlbertHallwithPeteTownshend,AlfieBoe andBillyIdol,togetherwiththestudiorecordingwasissuedbyDeutscheGramophon Launchoffive15,thechoir'sground-breakinginitiativeinsupportofwomencomposers, whichconcludedinJuly2022witharousingfinaleattheQueenElizabethHall

Thechoir’sfirstventureintovideogamemusicfromFinalFantasyatMethodistCentralHall, accompaniedbytheRoyalPhilharmonicConcertOrchestraattheinvitationofFrenchpromoterLaFeeSauvage

OurmenperformedinfrontofatelevisionaudienceofmillionsattheEurovisionSongConcertwithMadonnainTelAviv,followedbythewholechoirsingingHighMassatStPeter'sin VaticanCityaweeklater.

Performingacoverof'TheEndofAllThings'fromEverybody'sGonetotheRaptureat theBAFTAGamesAwards2019,composedbyoneofourfive15composersJessicaCurry MakingWaves:thefirstinaseriesofonlineconcertsstreamedduringthepandemic Launchofthechoir'sYoungSingers’ScholarshipProgrammeinsupportofaspiring18-25 yearoldsingers

Celebratingthechoir’s50thanniversarywithabusyprogrammeofconcerts,tours,workshops,residentials,recordingsandsocialevents

Welookforwardtomakingmanymorememorablemomentstogether.

VisittheChoir’swebsitetosignuptoourmailinglisttokeepinformedabouttheChoir’sfuture performances.

www.londonoriana.com

@londonoriana @londonoriana/LondonOrianaChoir

LondonOrianaChoirLtd.RegisteredinEnglandandWalesNo.2848714,registeredcharityNo.1038120

DominicEllis-Peckham:MusicalDirector

DominicEllis-Peckhamisaconductorandchorusmaster,specialisingin operaandchoralrepertoire.AFellowofTheRoyalSocietyforArts, Dominichasbeencommendedbyreviewersas'alatentstar'and praisedforhisdedicationtotheRenaissanceandBaroqueera,whilstalso passionatelychampioningnewworksanddeliveringinspirational collaborations.

InadditiontohispositionwithLondonOrianaChoir,DominicisChief ConductorandArtisticDirectorofChamberChoirofLondon,Chorus MasterforOperaHollandPark,AssociatePrincipalConductorofThe NationalYouthChoirsofGreatBritainandMusicDirectorofAldeburgh Voices,theresidentchamberchoirforBrittenPearsArts.Heholdsthe positionofChorusDirectorandVisitingArtistatTrinityLaban ConservatoireofMusicandDance.

Dominichaspreparedchorusesinoperahouses,festivalsandontheconcertstage,includingan arrayofhighlyacclaimedworldpremieresHeregularlyconductsTheMeridianSinfoniaandLondon MozartPlayers,andperformsthroughouttheUKonconcertstagesincludingTheRoyalAlbertHall, TheBarbican,BirminghamSymphonyHall,UsherHall,BridgewaterHallandWigmoreHall.

DominichasconductedprojectsatAbbeyRoad,AirStudios,AngelStudiosandforDeutsche Grammophon,WhistleRecords,SignumRecords,Sky,BBCandEurovision.Hisreleaseshavereached No.1inboththeU.SClassicalBillboardChartsandtheU.KSpecialistCharts.

Thisseason,DominicreturnsasChorusMastertoOperaHollandParkforCeciliaStinton'snew productionof'Rigoletto'andJohnWilkie's'HanselandGretel'withTheCityofLondonSinfonia, returnstoSnapeMaltingsfortheir'SummeratSnape'series,returnstoTheAldeburghFestivalwith Byrd's'MassforFiveVoices'andmakeshisdebutwithEnglishNationalBalletasChorusMasterfor Stravinsky's'LesNoces'withTheChorusofOperaHollandParkandLondon'sSadler'sWellsTheatre. Forfurtherinformation,visitwww.dominicellispeckham.com

FROMTHEARCHIVE

RecordingofOdysseusbyArmstrongGibbs in2007

CuttySarkconcertin2016

CeciliaMcDowall(b.1951)isoneoftheUK’sleadingcomposersof sacredandsecularchoralmusic.Hermostcharacteristicworksfuse fluentmelodiclineswithoccasionaldissonantharmoniesandrhythmic exuberance.Hermusichasbeencommissionedandperformedbysuch organisationsastheRoyalScottishNationalOrchestraandChorus, CityofLondonSinfonia,LondonMozartPlayers,StPaul’sCathedral, leadingchoirs,includingtheBBCSingers,TheSixteen,Oxfordand Cambridgechoirs,KansasCityChoraleandatfestivalsworldwide. Manyofherworkshavebeenrecorded,mostrecentlybytheChoirof TrinityCollege,Cambridge.

In2020McDowallwaspresentedwiththeprestigiousIvorNovello Awardfora‘consistentlyexcellentbodyofwork’.Thiswasa‘Gift’from TheIvorsAcademy.In2021McDowallwasgiventhecovetedannual commissionbyKing’sCollege,Cambridge,towritethecarolforthe ChoirofKing’sCollegeandtheirmusicdirector,DanielHyde,tobepartofthemuch-lovedFestivalof NineLessonsandCarolsbroadcastworld-wideonChristmasEve.Thecarol,Thereisnorose,is publishedbyOxfordUniversityPress.

In2022McDowallwascommissionedbyTheSixteentowriteaworkcommemoratingthelifeofthe lateQueenperformedattheTowerofLondon,OLord,makethyservant,Elizabeth,andin2023, SignumreleasedaCDofMcDowall’sDaVinciRequiemandorchestralsongcycle,SeventyDegrees BelowZero,performedbyRoderickWilliams,KateSilver,BenjaminHulett,WimbledonChoralwiththe CityofLondonSinfonia,conductorNeilFerris.

Supportingcharity:MusicforDementia

ThePowerofMusicFundisrunbytheNationalAcademyofSocial Prescribing,kickstartedwith£1millionfromtheUtleyFoundation (MusicforDementia).ThePowerofMusicfundisdedicatedto supportingmusicprojectsthathaveaprofoundimpacton people’sphysicalandmentalwell-being.Thisincludesinitiatives likedementiachoirsandsinginggroups,whichhavethepowerto transformthelivesofindividualslivingwithdementiaandtheir caregivers.WehavealreadyseenthePOMfundissue100grants of£1000todementiachoirsandsinginggroups!Andweareso excitedtoseewhathappensnext!Ifyouwouldliketobringthe powerofmusictopeoplelivingwithdementiaandtheircarers, youcanmakeadonationtodaytoThePowerofMusicFund.

InternationalRecordReviewhaspraisedherfor“acommunicativegiftthatisveryrareinmodern music”.