Benefit Concert for MAP UK

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:47:45 +0100

At the invitation of Red Desert Productions, The Choir of London participated in a concert arranged at short notice to raise emergency funds for the humanitarian work of Medical Aid for Palestinians UK. MAP UK is a long-established charity with a reputation for minimising bureaucratic expenditure and getting relief quickly and effectively to where it is most needed. The concert featured a variety of artists of widely varying backgrounds, including the traditional Palestinian dance troupe al-

Bursary Scheme 2008

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 18:45:05 +0100

After two and a half years of planning, the Choir of London Trust Bursary Scheme began in earnest in August 2008 with the arrival of the first four recipients of the new awards: Adam Rafidi, Lina Khalil, Nirvan Abu Shusheh and Naseem al-Atrash (pictured above, from left to right). Designed to provide talented young performers between the ages of 12 and 18 with the kinds of inspiring educational opportunities that are difficult to come by in the Occupied Territories, the annual scheme aims to

John Rutter / RPO Christmas Concerts

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0000

The Choir of London made its debut performance at the Royal Albert Hall shortly before Christmas 2007, appearing alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the second year in succession as part of what has become a London Christmas institution: two festive concerts hosted by world-renowned composer and conductor John Rutter. Enormously popular as ever, the concerts also featured soprano soloist Elin Manahan Thomas, whose debut CD was released to critical acclaim earlier in the year.

'Stolen Voices' at Imperial War Museum

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:13:45 +0100

The Choir of London joined the Farnham Youth Choir for a unique performance at London’s Imperial War Museum marking the premiere performance of Stolen Voices at London’s Imperial War Museum, as part of a day of free events marking United Nations International Day of Peace. Commissioned for the occasion from outstanding young British composer Tarik O’Regan, Stolen Voices is an oratorio inspired by a collection of young people’s war diaries published last year. Offering powerful insights into

Launch of British Library Sacred Exhibition

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:00:17 +0100

The British Library’s Sacred exhibition opened to the public at the end of April 2007. One of the most important collections of religious manuscripts ever assembled in a single location, it includes many of the finest achievements in Christian, Islamic and Jewish book production from a wide variety of historical and geographical contexts. With its striking interweaving of Judaic, Sufi Islamic and New Testament texts, John Tavener’s Lament for Jerusalem seemed uniquely suited to this exhibi

Choral collaborations in Israel

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:59:02 +0100

A major tour to the Middle East in 2007 afforded an opportunity to work again alongside three choirs in Israel with which the Choir of London has established close links: the al-Ba’ath and Sawa Choirs, based in the town of Shafa ‘Amr in the Galilee, and the Efroni Choir, a childrens’ ensemble in Emek Hefer, near Herzliyya. This project was sponsored in part by a grant from the British Council in Israel.