Hamburg: Cultural Harmonies
Nov
11
7:30 pm19:30

Hamburg: Cultural Harmonies

Join us for an exquisite evening of music. We warmly welcome back distinguished conductor Kevin John Edusei to guide the Chineke! Orchestra. This concert is not just a gathering of musical talent but also a celebration of the familial bonds within the Chineke! Orchestra. 

The concert opens with the world premiere of the dynamic sounds of Derrick Skye's Prisms, Cycles, Leaps.

A founding member of the Chineke! Orchestra, Isata Kanneh-Mason makes her highly anticipated solo debut with the orchestra this evening.

Her performance of Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No.3 promises to be a deeply personal and poignant interpretation, reflecting her intimate connection with the ensemble.

The programme culminates with another world premiere; this time of Brian Raphael Nabors' Concerto for Orchestra, a composition that marries the traditional richness of orchestral sound with the freshness of contemporary musical innovation.

With Edusei's seasoned leadership and Kanneh-Mason's debut performance, the evening is set to be a harmonious blend of heritage and innovation, showcasing the depth and diversity that define the Chineke! Orchestra.

Performers:

Kevin John Edusei conductor

Isata Kanneh-Mason piano

Programme:

Derrick Skye: Prisms, Cycles, Leaps (world premiere)

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3

Interval

Brian Raphael Nabors: Concerto for Orchestra (world premiere)

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Berlin: Cultural Harmonies
Nov
13
7:30 pm19:30

Berlin: Cultural Harmonies

Join us for an exquisite evening of music. We warmly welcome back distinguished conductor Kevin John Edusei to guide the Chineke! Orchestra. This concert is not just a gathering of musical talent but also a celebration of the familial bonds within the Chineke! Orchestra. 

The concert opens with the dynamic sounds of Derrick Skye's Prisms, Cycles, Leaps.

A founding member of the Chineke! Orchestra, Isata Kanneh-Mason makes her highly anticipated solo debut with the orchestra this evening.

Her performance of Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No.3 promises to be a deeply personal and poignant interpretation, reflecting her intimate connection with the ensemble.

The programme culminates with another world premiere; this time of Brian Raphael Nabors' Concerto for Orchestra, a composition that marries the traditional richness of orchestral sound with the freshness of contemporary musical innovation.

With Edusei's seasoned leadership and Kanneh-Mason's debut performance, the evening is set to be a harmonious blend of heritage and innovation, showcasing the depth and diversity that define the Chineke! Orchestra.

Performers:

Kevin John Edusei conductor

Isata Kanneh-Mason piano

Programme:

Derrick Skye: Prisms, Cycles, Leaps

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3

Interval

Brian Raphael Nabors: Concerto for Orchestra

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Brussels: Cultural Harmonies
Nov
15
7:30 pm19:30

Brussels: Cultural Harmonies

Join us for an exquisite evening of music. We warmly welcome back distinguished conductor Kevin John Edusei to guide the Chineke! Orchestra. This concert is not just a gathering of musical talent but also a celebration of the familial bonds within the Chineke! Orchestra. 

The concert opens with the dynamic sounds of Derrick Skye's Prisms, Cycles, Leaps.

A founding member of the Chineke! Orchestra, Isata Kanneh-Mason makes her highly anticipated solo debut with the orchestra this evening.

Her performance of Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No.3 promises to be a deeply personal and poignant interpretation, reflecting her intimate connection with the ensemble.

The programme culminates with another world premiere; this time of Brian Raphael Nabors' Concerto for Orchestra, a composition that marries the traditional richness of orchestral sound with the freshness of contemporary musical innovation.

With Edusei's seasoned leadership and Kanneh-Mason's debut performance, the evening is set to be a harmonious blend of heritage and innovation, showcasing the depth and diversity that define the Chineke! Orchestra.

Performers:

Kevin John Edusei conductor

Isata Kanneh-Mason piano

Programme:

Derrick Skye: Prisms, Cycles, Leaps

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3

Interval

Brian Raphael Nabors: Concerto for Orchestra

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Southbank Centre: Cultural Harmonies
Nov
21
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Cultural Harmonies

Join us at the Queen Elizabeth Hall for an exquisite evening of music. We warmly welcome back distinguished conductor Kevin John Edusei to guide the Chineke! Orchestra. This concert is not just a gathering of musical talent but also a celebration of the familial bonds within the Chineke! Orchestra. 

The concert opens with the UK premiere of the dynamic sounds of Derrick Skye's Prisms, Cycles, Leaps.

A founding member of the Chineke! Orchestra, Isata Kanneh-Mason makes her highly anticipated UK solo debut with the orchestra this evening.

Her performance of Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No.3 promises to be a deeply personal and poignant interpretation, reflecting her intimate connection with the ensemble.

The programme culminates with another UK premiere; this time of Brian Raphael Nabors' Concerto for Orchestra, a composition that marries the traditional richness of orchestral sound with the freshness of contemporary musical innovation.

With Edusei's seasoned leadership and Kanneh-Mason's debut performance, the evening is set to be a harmonious blend of heritage and innovation, showcasing the depth and diversity that define the Chineke! Orchestra.

Performers:

Kevin John Edusei conductor

Isata Kanneh-Mason piano

Programme:

Derrick Skye: Prisms, Cycles, Leaps (UK premiere)

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3

Interval

Brian Raphael Nabors: Concerto for Orchestra (UK premiere)

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Southbank Centre: Chineke! Orchestra Celebrates a Decade
Jan
24
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Chineke! Orchestra Celebrates a Decade

The orchestra begins a year of celebrations marking its tenth anniversary with a performance in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which also hosted its 2015 debut.

This landmark year celebrates not only musical excellence and diversity but also its role in illuminating works of previously overlooked composers, reinforcing its commitment to an inclusive classical music world.

Europe's pioneering orchestra for majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians, Chineke! Orchestra has not only elevated musical talents but also redefined the classical music industry's landscape, embedding diversity and inclusivity at its core.

The orchestra’s decade-long journey has seen them herald outstanding young musicians and neglected historical composers, as well as commissioning new works and introducing new narratives that have enriched the classical repertoire.

Chineke!'s initiatives have sparked a global conversation on representation, urging classical music institutions worldwide to embrace a more inclusive approach.

At the heart of Chineke!'s mission is the nurturing of young talent. The Chineke! Juniors programme has been pivotal in launching the international careers of lauded soloists, conductors and composers, underlining Chineke!'s role in shaping the future of classical music.

This anniversary is also a reaffirmation of Chineke!'s commitment to enriching the classical music landscape. Chineke!'s vision for the future is clear: to continue fostering a space where classical music mirrors the diversity of society.

This concert honours the achievements of Chineke! Orchestra, whose journey underscores the power of music as a force for change, nurturing talent and promoting inclusivity.

Chineke! invites us to continue to work towards a future where diversity is not just accepted, but embraced as the foundation of a richer, more inclusive world.

Programme:

Shirley J. Thompson Fanfare for Chineke!

Julian Joseph Carry That Sound

Roderick Williams Ethiopia Boy

INTERVAL 

Witter-Johnson, Kidane, Thompson, Williams Song of the Prophets: A Requiem for the Climate

James B. Wilson Free-man

James B. Wilson/Yomi Sode Remnants

Performers:

Matthew Kofi Waldren conductor
Yomi Sode narrator 
Roderick Williams baritone

Renu Hossain tabla
Richard Olatunde Baker talking drums
Rapasa Nyatrapasa nyatiti 

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Southbank Centre: Tributes & Triumphs
Apr
9
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Tributes & Triumphs

Classical tradition meets contemporary innovation in a memorable programme with works by Avril Coleridge-Taylor, Haydn and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Opening with Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout, this concert begins on a note of gratitude. Composed as an homage to the indefatigable spirit of Covid-19 frontline workers, this piece reflects the resilient rhythms of daily life during the pandemic, serving as a vibrant tribute to those who kept our world moving.

Avril Coleridge-Taylor’s A Sussex Landscape follows, drawing from her personal connection to the region where she spent her later years. The piece unfolds with sweeping melodic lines, grand orchestral landscapes and cymbals crashing like the relentless waves along Sussex’s shores, evoking the area’s dynamic natural beauty. This composition not only portrays the tranquil and rugged aspects of Sussex but also serves as a musical homage to a place she cherished deeply.

The first half ends with Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in E flat, with the orchestra’s world-class trumpeter Aaron Akugbo, showcasing brilliance and highlighting the expressive elegance and technical prowess of the trumpet.

After the interval, Brian Nabors’ Pulse for Orchestra takes us on a rhythmic journey, exploring the universal rhythms that underpin our shared experiences. This piece captivates with its dynamic energy, drawing listeners into a vibrant soundscape where each note pulses with life and connects us all.

The evening culminates with Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Symphony in A minor. Premiered in 1896, this historic composition first captured the attention of audiences including King George V. Over a century later, it received its Proms premiere by the Chineke! Orchestra in 2021, testament to Coleridge-Taylor’s lasting legacy and the symphony’s blend of traditional forms with innovative ideas.

Join us for a memorable night that celebrates the transformative power of music across eras and cultures.

Performers:

Vimbayi Kaziboni conductor

Aaron Azunda Akugbo trumpet

Programme:

Valerie Coleman: Seven O'Clock Shout

A Coleridge-Taylor: Sussex Landscape, Op.27

Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E flat

Interval

Brian Nabors: Pulse

Coleridge-Taylor: Symphony No.1 in A minor

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Southbank Centre: Marsalis' Fiddler's Tale
Apr
9
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Marsalis' Fiddler's Tale

Jazz icon Wynton Marsalis’ update of Stravinsky’s uncanny tale, L’Histoire du soldat (The Soldier’s Tale), is a modern parable of temptation and redemption.

Marsalis’ A Fiddler’s Tale updates the classic narrative to explore a jazz fiddler’s pact with the devil.

In this tale set in the world of commercialism, the fiddler, seduced by promises of fame and fortune, confronts the loss of her artistic soul.

The suite is brought to life with a chamber ensemble including violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, cornet, trombone and percussion, mirroring Stravinsky’s original instrumentation but infusing it with jazz rhythms and blues.

The work consists of eight movements. In ‘The Fiddler’s March’, a jazz march introduces the tale. Swing rhythms then depict the fiddler’s rise in ‘A Fiddler’s Soul’.

We then follow the fiddler’s journey through solitude, longing and conflict until the final, triumphant movement, ‘The Blues on Top’.

Marsalis’ blend of musical genres and moral complexities come to life through a dynamic mix of instruments and narration in an evening of engaging music, drama, and storytelling.

Explore themes of integrity, sacrifice, and redemption in a performance that redefines traditional tales.

Programme:

Wynton Marsalis: A Fiddler's tale

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Southbank Centre: Phenomenal Women
Oct
9
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Phenomenal Women

The Chineke! Orchestra honours women composers whose powerful music resonates through the ages, ending with a UK premiere of a rediscovered Florence Price work.

The Chineke! Orchestra and conductor Tatiana Pérez guide us through Eleanor Alberga’s extraordinary, cosmic Jupiter’s Fairground, then to bask in the pastoral beauty of Avril Coleridge-Taylor's Sussex Landscape.

The centrepiece is Valerie Coleman's Concerto for Wind Quintet and Orchestra, Phenomenal Women. The piece is a profound tribute to women who have stepped into treacherous spaces, inspired the world, and moved the course of history; shining a bright light and opening doors, especially for women of colour.

Following the interval, the Chineke! Orchestra breaks new ground with the UK premiere of Florence Price's fourth and final symphony; she never heard it performed during her lifetime.

The work was thought to be lost but was rediscovered in 2009 among a stash of manuscripts in Price’s former summer home. The piece weaves a rich narrative of cultural depth and emotional nuance, celebrating her historic contribution to American music.

It is a privilege for the Chineke! Orchestra to give the floor to these incredible women.

Programme:

Eleanor Alberga: Overture, Jupiter's fairground

A Coleridge-Taylor: Sussex Landscape, Op.27

Valerie Coleman: Phenomenal Women

Interval

Florence Price: Symphony No.4 in D minor

Performers:

Meera Maharaj flute 

Myfanwy Price oboe 

Stephanie Yim clarinet 

Daria Phillips bassoon 

Nivanthi Karunaratne horn 

Tatiana Pérez conductor 

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Brassworks at Woolwich Works
Sep
21
11:00 am11:00

Brassworks at Woolwich Works

Join us at Brassworks, a street brass carnival and festival of horns, on Saturday 21 September!

Performances from an array of music genres all featuring….YES! You guessed it! Brass! Come and watch music from across the world, from Bollywood to New Orleans, Jazz to Classical, Afro Rhythms, youth performances and workshops - culminating in a finale concert in the Fireworks Factory, at Woolwich Works.

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BBC Proms: Chineke! plays Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathétique’ Symphony
Sep
8
7:30 pm19:30

BBC Proms: Chineke! plays Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathétique’ Symphony

Britain’s only orchestra of Black and ethnically diverse musicians returns to the Proms with music that celebrates its own heritage as well as universal dreams and aspirations.

Stewart Goodyear is the soloist in his own vibrant celebration of Caribbean music, Callaloo, while Duke Ellington’s jazzed-up take on Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker turns waltz into swing and Sugar Plum into heady rum. Conductor Andrew Grams ends with the most emotionally intense and musically robust symphony Tchaikovsky ever wrote, his heartbreakingly autobiographical ‘Pathétique’.

Broadcast live on BBC Radio 3

Performers:

Stewart Goodyear piano
Andrew Grams conductor

Programme:

Ellington & Strayhorn, arr. and adapted J. Tyzik The Nutcracker Suite
Goodyear Callaloo – Caribbean Suite for piano and orchestra
Interval
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, ‘Pathétique’

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Lucerne Festival: Coleridge-Taylor, Marsalis, Florence B. Price
Sep
3
8:00 pm20:00

Lucerne Festival: Coleridge-Taylor, Marsalis, Florence B. Price

It was a sensation when, at the Lucerne Summer Festival 2022, the Chineke! Orchestra and the Chineke! Junior Orchestra performed for the first time, with Die Zeit calling Chineke! “one of the most musically interesting ensembles currently touring the globe.”

Chineke! return to the festival in 2024. The concert begins with the sparkling Ballade, Op. 33, by the British composer Samuel Coleridge- Taylor, a work of late Romanticism that immediately catches the ear. It might be reminiscent of Tchaikovsky or Dvořák. The latter undoubtedly influenced the symphonic music of the African American composer Florence Price. In 2022, Yannick Nézet-Séguin introduced Price’s First Symphony to Lucerne, and now we can hear her Third. In between, things get jazzy with the Violin Concerto by the legendary trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis.

Programme:

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Ballade in a minor
Wynton Marsalis: Violin concerto in D

Interval

Florence B. Price: Symphony 3

Kelly Hall-Tompkins: Violin Soloist
Leslie Suganandarajah: Conductor

 


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Southbank Centre (Clore Ballroom): Chineke! Junior Orchestra
Aug
11
2:30 pm14:30

Southbank Centre (Clore Ballroom): Chineke! Junior Orchestra

Join the Chineke! Junior Orchestra in an exciting matinee concert at the end of their week-long residential rehearsal and performance course.

The Chineke! Junior Orchestra is the sister ensemble to the Chineke! Orchestra, and is made up of majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians aged 11 - 22. Both ensembles were founded simultaneously in 2015 with the aim of creating opportunities for emerging and established musicians of Black and ethnically diverse heritage.

This concert comes at the end of an intensive musical week spent together rehearsing and exploring the music that they will perform, as well as receiving individual tuition from members of the senior orchestra, who act as mentors, teachers and role models.

Programme:

Coleridge-Taylor Ballade in A min 

Coleridge-Taylor Romance in G maj for solo violin + orch 

Bottesini Grande Allegro di Concerto 'Alla Mendelssohn' 

Holst Mars (from The Planets) 

Interval   

Dvorak Symphony No 8

Performers:

Matthew Lynch conductor

Elodie Chousmer-Howelles Violin

Charles Campbell-Peek Double bass

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Fairfield Halls: Chineke! Junior Orchestra
Aug
10
7:00 pm19:00

Fairfield Halls: Chineke! Junior Orchestra

Enjoy an extraordinary evening of music as the Chineke! Junior Orchestra takes the stage for their much anticipated summer concert, marking the culmination of their annual week-long residential course.

The Chineke! Junior Orchestra is the sister ensemble to the Chineke! Orchestra, and is made up of majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians aged 11 - 22. Both ensembles were founded simultaneously in 2015 with the aim of creating opportunities for emerging and established musicians of Black and ethnically diverse heritage.

This concert comes at the end of an intensive musical week spent together rehearsing and exploring the music that they will perform, as well as receiving individual tuition from members of the senior orchestra, who act as mentors, teachers and role models.

Programme:

Coleridge-Taylor Ballade in A min 

Coleridge-Taylor Romance in G maj for solo violin + orch 

Bottesini Grande Allegro di Concerto 'Alla Mendelssohn' 

Holst Mars (from The Planets) 

Interval   

Dvorak Symphony No 8

Performers:

Matthew Lynch conductor

Elodie Chousmer-Howelles Violin

Charles Campbell-Peek Double bass

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The Lion King in Concert
Jul
5
to 6 Jul

The Lion King in Concert

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of The Lion King.

Experience the original animated classic roaring from the big screen, all whilst Hans Zimmer's Oscar®-winning score is performed live to picture. Featuring Chineke! Orchestra and London Community Gospel Choir, conducted by Sarah Hicks.  Plus, special guests from the West End join us to celebrate 25 years of the stage musical.  

The Lion King follows the powerful story of Simba as he journeys from a wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands with glorious colours and enchanting music.

On the Friday evening, there will be a special fashion moment to honour Disney’s The Lion King 30th anniversary, in collaboration with a French luxury house. 

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts © Disney

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Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter
Jul
2
8:00 pm20:00

Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter

Sail across musical boundaries in this programme by Chineke!

Fela Sowande came to London in 1934 and had a distinguished career in England, Nigeria and the USA. His music combines Western tradition with his native Yoruba culture. Perhaps his best-known work, the African Suite is packed full of open-hearted melodies in its five short movements.

Max Richter fused the musical DNA of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with his own style. The result topped the charts in 22 countries and has now been recorded by Chineke! – take this chance to hear it live.

Programme:

Fela Sowande: African Suite
Cassie Kinoshi: To the Hibiscus

Interval

Max Richter: Vivaldi Recomposed

Rosie Bergonzi: Handpan Soloist
Elena Urioste: Violin Soloist

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Rheingau Musik Festival: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter
Jun
30
7:00 pm19:00

Rheingau Musik Festival: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter

Sail across musical boundaries in this programme by Chineke!

Fela Sowande came to London in 1934 and had a distinguished career in England, Nigeria and the USA. His music combines Western tradition with his native Yoruba culture. Perhaps his best-known work, the African Suite is packed full of open-hearted melodies in its five short movements.

Max Richter fused the musical DNA of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with his own style. The result topped the charts in 22 countries and has now been recorded by Chineke! – take this chance to hear it live.

Programme:

Fela Sowande: African Suite
Cassie Kinoshi: To the Hibiscus

Interval

Max Richter: Vivaldi Recomposed

Rosie Bergonzi: Handpan Soloist
Elena Urioste: Violin Soloist

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Southbank Centre: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter
Jun
8
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter

Chineke! Orchestra gives the London premiere of Cassie Kinoshi’s Handpan Concerto, in a programme also featuring music by Fela Sowande and Max Richter.

This evening is an exploration of musical realms that bridge tradition and innovation.

It commences in lively fashion with African Suite by Fela Sowande (1905 – 1987), a tapestry of melodies that celebrates African musical heritage by infusing traditional Western forms with African rhythms and themes – a combination with which Chineke! is very at home.

The excitement builds as Kinoshi’s Handpan Concerto, a Chineke! commission, gets its London premiere. Rosie Bergonzi, a member of the orchestra’s percussion section, takes the role of soloist, bringing the enigmatic sounds of the handpan to the forefront.

Richter’s Vivaldi Recomposed brings the evening to a close, with a collaboration familiar to Chineke! audiences, as violinist Elena Urioste takes the stage.

They previously recorded this work together for Decca, with Urioste’s expressive and unique reimagining of Vivaldi’s timeless masterpiece transforming it into a mesmerising contemporary experience.

As a whole, these performances create an unforgettable evening that transcends boundaries and celebrates the rich tapestry of global music.

Perfromers:

Rosie Bergonzi handpan

Elena Urioste violin

Programme:

Sowande: African Suite

Cassie Kinoshi: To the Hibiscus (London Premiere)

Co-commissioned by Chineke! and the Southbank Centre

Interval

Max Richter: Vivaldi's Four Seasons Recomposed

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Anvil Arts: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter
Jun
7
7:30 pm19:30

Anvil Arts: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter

Sail across musical boundaries in this programme by Chineke!

Fela Sowande came to London in 1934 and had a distinguished career in England, Nigeria and the USA. His music combines Western tradition with his native Yoruba culture. Perhaps his best-known work, the African Suite is packed full of open-hearted melodies in its five short movements.

Max Richter fused the musical DNA of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with his own style. The result topped the charts in 22 countries and has now been recorded by Chineke! – take this chance to hear it live.

Programme:

Fela Sowande: African Suite
Cassie Kinoshi: To the Hibiscus (UK Premiere)

Co-commissioned by Chineke! and the Southbank Centre

Interval

Max Richter: Vivaldi Recomposed

Rosie Bergonzi: Handpan Soloist
Elena Urioste: Violin Soloist

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Dresden Music Festival: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter
May
31
7:30 pm19:30

Dresden Music Festival: Sowande, Kinoshi, Richter

Sail across musical boundaries in this programme by Chineke!

Fela Sowande came to London in 1934 and had a distinguished career in England, Nigeria and the USA. His music combines Western tradition with his native Yoruba culture. Perhaps his best-known work, the African Suite is packed full of open-hearted melodies in its five short movements.

Max Richter fused the musical DNA of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with his own style. The result topped the charts in 22 countries and has now been recorded by Chineke! – take this chance to hear it live.

Programme:

Fela Sowande: African Suite
Cassie Kinoshi: To the Hibiscus (World Premiere)

Co-commissioned by Chineke! and the Southbank Centre

Interval

Max Richter: Vivaldi Recomposed

Rosie Bergonzi: Handpan Soloist
Elena Urioste: Violin Soloist

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Southbank Centre: Goodyear, Berlioz, Garcia
May
3
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Goodyear, Berlioz, Garcia

Chineke! Orchestra present the world premiere of Stewart Goodyear’s Life, Life, Life, along with music by Berlioz and the UK premiere of Garcia’s Requiem.

The evening’s journey commences with Goodyear’s heartfelt tribute to his late mother.

Commissioned by Chineke! Orchestra and subtly echoing the essence of his Trinidadian heritage, Goodyear has said that the work’s name, Life, Life, Life, is something that his mother would often say, whether she was feeling happy, exhausted, or exasperated. She embraced life fully, and Goodyear aims to capture her joy for eternity in this music. Every second is dedicated to her spirit.

Next we plunge into Berlioz’ La Mort de Cléopâtre, a dramatic scene that captures the final moments of the iconic Egyptian queen. Composed in 1829, its powerful emotions and vivid storytelling continue to resonate with audiences, symbolising a tragic end and historical turmoil.

Finally, hear José Mauricio Nunes Garcia’s Requiem in what is believed to be the UK premiere of a neglected masterpiece.

Garcia (1767 – 1830) is one of Brazil’s most prominent classical composers and his Requiem subtly blends Latin American and European forms, creating a work that rejoices in life, and is both reverent and hopeful. Its universal appeal transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

Combined, these three pieces promise an evening of musical exploration and emotional depth, in the company of Chineke! Orchestra and Chineke! Amateur Symphonic Chorus

Performers:

Malcolm J Merriweather conductor

Isabelle Peters soprano

Idunnu Münch mezzo-soprano

Zwakele Tshabalala tenor

Rodney Earl Clarke baritone

Chineke! Amateur Symphonic Chorus

Programme:

Goodyear: Life, Life, Life (World Premiere)

Berlioz: La mort de Cléopâtre for soprano & orchestra

Interval

Garcia: Requiem

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Southbank Centre: Pratibha Singh Baghel: The Symphony of Love
Mar
9
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Pratibha Singh Baghel: The Symphony of Love

Pratibha Singh Baghel, the sensational singer, makes her UK debut live in concert with Chineke! Orchestra.

The Symphony of Love is a confluence of the rich musical traditions of India and the West, featuring a curated collection of popular old film classics, current Bollywood hits and ghazals – rearranged for orchestra.

As well as Chineke!, who are known for championing change and diversity in classical music and one of the Southbank Centre’s Resident Orchestras, Baghel is joined by eight of India’s leading instrumentalists.

Presented by Ragatip

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Southbank Centre: Watts, Saint-Saëns, Coleridge-Taylor
Feb
2
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Watts, Saint-Saëns, Coleridge-Taylor

Leslie Suganandarajah conducts Chineke! Orchestra in a programme of Coleridge-Taylor, Saint-Saëns and a world premiere by 19-year-old composer Tristen JT Watts.

Watts’ piece, Majestique – a rhythmically driven symphonic work which blends mainstream classical influences, particularly Beethoven and Mendelssohn, with a unique personal voice – opens the concert. It also marks Watts’ first orchestral piece to implement full sonata form and it, as its name suggests, is truly majestic.

The programme continues with Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony and sees William Campbell, usually a junior violinist with Chineke!, making his solo organ debut. This symphony integrates the grand sound of the organ with orchestral timbres, providing a stunning conclusion to a diverse and dynamic evening.

The evening concludes with Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Symphony in A minor – also written when the composer was aged 19. It’s a composition that seamlessly combines African and European musical traditions, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of its creator.

Programme:

Tristen Watts: Majestique (World Premiere)

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No.3 in C minor (Organ)

Interval

Coleridge-Taylor: Symphony No.1 in A minor

Leslie Suganandarajah: Conductor

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Chineke! String Quartet at Stratford East
Jan
26
7:30 pm19:30

Chineke! String Quartet at Stratford East

The critically acclaimed musicians of Chineke! make their Stratford East debut with a kaleidoscopic programme for string quartet. The evening celebrates the work of two African-American composers: rising star Brian Nabors, who draws on jazz, funk, R&B and gospel alongside contemporary classical music, and William Grant Still, who was arguably the first Black composer to gain prominence in the world of American classical music in the 1930s. 

Bookended by well-loved classics by Mendelssohn and Haydn, this evening will be a night to remember for the classical music newcomer as well as the contemporary classical connoisseur.

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Chineke! String Quartet at Newcastle-under-Lyme’s New Vic Theatre
Jan
17
7:30 pm19:30

Chineke! String Quartet at Newcastle-under-Lyme’s New Vic Theatre

The critically acclaimed musicians of Chineke! come to Newcastle-under-Lyme’s New Vic Theatre with a kaleidoscopic programme for string quartet. Bookended by well-loved classics by Mendelssohn and Haydn, the evening focuses in on work by two contrasting African-American composers: rising star Brian Nabors draws on jazz, funk, R&B and gospel alongside contemporary classical music, while William Grant Still was arguably the first Black composer to gain prominence in the world of American classical music in the 1930s.

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Woolwich Works: A Chineke! Christmas
Dec
12
7:00 pm19:00

Woolwich Works: A Chineke! Christmas

This December, get into the festive spirit with A Chineke! Christmas.

Celebrate a joyful occasion with a programme packed full of traditional and soulful carols, classical gems, and opportunities for audience participation!

Join us, along with a splendid lineup of guests, for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music and celebration.

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Fairfield Halls: A Chineke! Christmas
Dec
11
7:30 pm19:30

Fairfield Halls: A Chineke! Christmas

This December, get into the festive spirit with A Chineke! Christmas.

Celebrate a joyful occasion with a programme packed full of traditional and soulful carols, classical gems, and opportunities for audience participation!

Join us, along with a splendid lineup of guests, for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music and celebration.

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St John the Evangelist Church: A Chineke! Christmas
Dec
9
7:00 pm19:00

St John the Evangelist Church: A Chineke! Christmas

This December, get into the festive spirit with A Chineke! Christmas.

Celebrate a joyful occasion with a programme packed full of traditional and soulful carols, classical gems, and opportunities for audience participation!

Join us, along with a splendid lineup of guests, for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music and celebration.

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Southbank Centre: Armatrading & Tchaikovsky
Nov
24
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Armatrading & Tchaikovsky

Witness the premiere of Joan Armatrading’s first symphony, paired with Tchaikovsky’s expansive Fifth, in a concert of boundary-defying works.

Forging a path that has consistently defied categorisation, the composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist Armatrading explores a new voice in writing for the orchestra. With a renowned catalogue of 21 albums to her credit, Armatrading’s distinctive musicianship has always followed her own curiosity outside of genre boundaries and into new creative arenas. Her first symphony, premiered by the Chineke! Orchestra, brings an electrostatic charge to the concert hall.

Audiences have long been entranced by Tchaikovsky’s ability to generate a rollercoaster of emotional depths and heights, and nowhere is this more evident than in his Fifth Symphony. But the composer’s uninhibited creative choices attracted stinging criticism in his time, derided by many a reviewer as frivolous and sentimental. In his own words, Tchaikovsky’s Fifth marked his ‘complete resignation before Fate’, tracing an expansive journey through both despair and triumph.

With the works of Armatrading and Tchaikovsky, the Chineke! Orchestra offers an evening that celebrates two uncompromising creative voices.

Programme:

Joan Armatrading: Symphony No.1 (World Premiere)

Interval

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5

Andrew Grams: Conductor

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Royal Albert Hall: Angélique Kidjo
Nov
17
7:30 pm19:30

Royal Albert Hall: Angélique Kidjo

Five-time Grammy Award-winner Angélique Kidjo returns to the Royal Albert Hall for a celebration of her 40-year career, performing her greatest hits accompanied by the Chineke! Orchestra, conducted by Chris Cameron, and special guests including Grammy-nominated trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf and Senegalese superstar Youssou N’Dour.

Part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, this concert will celebrate the career-spanning catalogue of one of Africa’s best-known artists, with TIME magazine describing her as ‘Africa’s premier diva’, and including her in their list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021.

Kidjo, who is also the recipient of this year’s prestigious Polar Music Prize, has become renowned for merging the West African traditions of her childhood with American R&B, funk and jazz, alongside influences from Europe and Latin America.

A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she has appeared at the Hall twice before – at the 2019 BBC Proms and at a 2008 Stars of Africa fundraising concert. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with high-profile artists such as Sting, Philip Glass, Carlos Santana, Burna Boy, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone and Peter Gabriel, among many others.

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Anvil Arts: Haydn, Bologne, Beethoven
Oct
28
7:30 pm19:30

Anvil Arts: Haydn, Bologne, Beethoven

Travel through pre- and post-revolutionary Paris, where musical and political ambitions collide in the works of Haydn, Bologne and Beethoven.

From the grandiose opening of Haydn's fourth ‘Paris’ Symphony, to the fizzing wit of its finale, the composer makes the most of an orchestra over three times the size of his usual ensemble.

Reportedly a favourite of the soon-to-be-deposed Marie Antoinette, it was commissioned by the dazzling violinist, fencer and composer Joseph Bologne. Despite his close engagement with the highest aristocratic circles, Bologne - who had dual French/Caribbean heritage - was invigorated by the Revolution’s ethos of social reform, later leading a legion in support of the Republic.

The evening concludes with a work that transformed the classical symphony, catapulting it into the Romantic era. Initially dedicated to Napoleon, his decision to proclaim himself Emperor dashed Beethoven’s hopes that he would realise the ideals of the Revolution, and the dedication was swiftly removed. Nonetheless, the sense of rebellion remains.

Programme:

Haydn: Symphony No.85 (La Reine)
Bologne (Chevalier de Saint-Georges): Violin Concerto in G, Op.8

Interval

Beethoven: Symphony No.3 (Eroica)

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Warwick Arts Centre: Haydn, Bologne, Beethoven
Oct
26
7:30 pm19:30

Warwick Arts Centre: Haydn, Bologne, Beethoven

Travel through pre- and post-revolutionary Paris, where musical and political ambitions collide in the works of Haydn, Bologne and Beethoven.

From the grandiose opening of Haydn's fourth ‘Paris’ Symphony, to the fizzing wit of its finale, the composer makes the most of an orchestra over three times the size of his usual ensemble.

Reportedly a favourite of the soon-to-be-deposed Marie Antoinette, it was commissioned by the dazzling violinist, fencer and composer Joseph Bologne. Despite his close engagement with the highest aristocratic circles, Bologne - who had dual French/Caribbean heritage - was invigorated by the Revolution’s ethos of social reform, later leading a legion in support of the Republic.

The evening concludes with a work that transformed the classical symphony, catapulting it into the Romantic era. Initially dedicated to Napoleon, his decision to proclaim himself Emperor dashed Beethoven’s hopes that he would realise the ideals of the Revolution, and the dedication was swiftly removed. Nonetheless, the sense of rebellion remains.

Programme:

Haydn: Symphony No.85 (La Reine)
Bologne (Chevalier de Saint-Georges): Violin Concerto in G, Op.8

Interval

Beethoven: Symphony No.3 (Eroica)

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Southbank Centre: Haydn, Bologne, Beethoven
Oct
15
7:30 pm19:30

Southbank Centre: Haydn, Bologne, Beethoven

Travel through pre- and post-revolutionary Paris, where musical and political ambitions collide in the works of Haydn, Bologne and Beethoven.

Just a handful of years before the outbreak of revolution, we meet Haydn revelling in the creative possibilities of a new French commission. From the grandiose opening of his fourth Paris Symphony, to the fizzing wit of its finale, the composer makes the most of an orchestra over three times the size of his usual ensemble at Eszterháza. Reportedly a favourite of the soon-to-be-deposed queen Marie Antoinette, the symphony gained the nickname La Reine. Haydn’s Parisian commissioner was also a dazzling violinist and composer himself, as well as a celebrated fencer.

The concert offers a taste of Joseph Bologne’s virtuosity, with the flair of his G major violin concerto speaking to his prowess as both a composer and performer. As a man with dual French and Caribbean heritage, Bologne deployed his artistry to fight for his social survival as much as he used it as a means of creative expression. Despite his close engagement with the highest aristocratic – even royal – circles, he was invigorated by the Revolution’s ethos of social reform, later leading a legion in support of the Republic.

The evening concludes with a work that transformed the classical symphony, catapulting it into the Romantic era. Napoleon’s decision to appoint himself Emperor in Notre Dame Cathedral, the heart of Paris, dashed Beethoven’s hopes that he would realise the democratic ideals of the Revolution. On hearing the news, the composer scratched out his Third Symphony’s dedication to Napoleon so violently he tore through the manuscript page. But Beethoven’s rebranded Eroica has never lost its revolutionary zeal.

Programme:

Haydn: Symphony No.85 (La Reine)
Bologne (Chevalier de Saint-Georges): Violin Concerto in G, Op.8

Interval

Beethoven: Symphony No.3 (Eroica)

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Up Close And Musical: Chi-chi Nwanoku & Chineke! Soloists
Oct
11
6:30 pm18:30

Up Close And Musical: Chi-chi Nwanoku & Chineke! Soloists

Get to know Chi-chi Nwanoku and the soloists of Chineke! in this uniquely intimate chamber concert. This beautiful programme of double bass chamber works juxtaposes rarely heard arrangements of Florence B. Prices ‘5 Folksongs in Counterpoint’ with Franz Schubert’s Trout Quintet, and includes a candid interview with Artistic Director Shiry Rashkovsky about all things musical.

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BBC Prom 61: Chineke! Performs Beethoven's Fourth Symphony
Sep
1
7:30 pm19:30

BBC Prom 61: Chineke! Performs Beethoven's Fourth Symphony

Experience the electric atmosphere of a Chineke! Prom first-hand, as Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra returns to the Royal Albert Hall with Beethoven’s joyful Fourth Symphony and Haydn’s exuberant Trumpet Concerto.

On a mission to champion change and celebrate diversity in classical music, Chineke! also showcases music by pioneering Black British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and his American namesake, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson. Plus there’s an opportunity to hear Valerie Coleman’s pandemic anthem, Seven O’Clock Shout.

More information & tickets

Programme:

Valerie Coleman: Seven O’Clock Shout
Coleridge-Taylor: Four Noveletten
Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E flat major

Interval

Perkinson: Sinfonietta No. 1 – Rondo (3rd mvt)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B flat major

Chineke! Orchestra
Aaron Azunda Akugbo: Trumpet
Anthony Parnther: Conductor

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Fairfield Concert Hall: Chineke! Junior Orchestra
Aug
26
7:00 pm19:00

Fairfield Concert Hall: Chineke! Junior Orchestra

Enjoy an extraordinary evening of music as the Chineke! Junior Orchestra takes the stage for their highly anticipated summer concert, marking the culmination of their annual week-long residential course.

The Chineke! Junior Orchestra is the sister ensemble to the Chineke! Orchestra, and is made up of majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians aged 11 - 22. Both ensembles were founded simultaneously in 2015 with the aim of creating opportunities for emerging and established musicians of Black and ethnically diverse heritage.

This concert comes at the end of an intensive musical week spent together rehearsing and exploring the music that they will perform, as well as receiving individual tuition from members of the senior orchestra, who act as mentors, teachers and role models.

More information & tickets

Programme:

Tristen J. T. Watts: Jeremiah (16 mins)
Margaret Bonds: Montgomery Variations (26 mins)
- interval -
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Symphony in A minor (37 mins)

Shaun Matthew: Conductor

This concert is delivered as part of the Chineke! Junior Orchestra summer residential course, which is generously supported by Bank of America, Arts Council England, The Linbury Trust, and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust.

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The Stables: Chineke! Chamber Ensemble
Jul
22
8:00 pm20:00

The Stables: Chineke! Chamber Ensemble

2023 marks the 250th anniversary of one of the world’s most beloved hymns, Amazing Grace. Written by the Reverend John Newton to accompany his New Year’s Day service in the Olney Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul on 1 January 1773, the hymn has gone on to inspire countless people around the world and has even become known in America as the nation’s ‘spiritual anthem.’

250 years on, the Cowper & Newton Museum in Olney in partnership with The Stables present the world premiere of Forever?, a new work for voice and chamber ensemble responding to the anniversary and to the different meanings Amazing Grace has for people in the 21st Century.

With text by celebrated poet and writer Rommi Smith and music by renowned baritone and composer Roderick Williams OBE, the premiere will be performed by members of Chineke!, Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, whose mission is to champion change and celebrate diversity in classical music. The concert will also feature chamber works by Black and ethnically diverse composers.

Forever? has been commissioned by Cowper & Newton Museum with The Stables for Amazing Grace 250. Supported using public funding by The National Lottery through Arts Council England and Milton Keynes City Council.

More information & tickets

Programme:

Florence B. Price: Five Folksongs in Counterpoint
William Grant Still: Folk Suite No.1
Tomaso Albinoni: Trumpet concerto B flat op.7 No.3
Roderick Williams: Forever?

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