Chineke! Orchestra Celebrates a Decade: Part Two

The performance opens with a brand new piece by Liverpool-born composer Nneka Cummins. Celebrating the ensemble in all its glory, Cummins creates acoustic music with a focus on colour, percussiveness and organic flowing melodies. The composer’s original sound-worlds are formed of new sonic combinations and timbral blends.

Then we hear music by the sensation that is Ayanna Witter-Johnson in Blush. A long time collaborator and incredible performer in her own right, she takes the traditions of classical music and seamlessly blends them with a wealth of influences including R&B and reggae.

Cassie Kinoshi’s handpan concerto to the hibiscus blends the mellow sounds of this rare but wonderful instrument with the orchestral textures of Chineke! Orchestra’s string section and percussion soloist Rosie Bergonzi.

Stewart Goodyear echoes the essence of his Trinidadian heritage in Life, Life, Life, a piece dedicated to his mother, who would often say the phrase whether she was feeling happy, exhausted or exasperated. She embraced life fully, and Goodyear aims to capture her joy for eternity in this music.

And we close with a work that reflects one of the most powerful global movements in modern history, as composer James B Wilson and poet Yomi Ṣode reflect an image from Black Lives Matter protests.