Living Voices

In the collection Living Voices, Stainer & Bell are delighted to present ten inspirational pieces for choirs, all of which speak about an aspect of modern life. The idea for the collection came from composer Russell Hepplewhite, who invited ten outstanding British poets to create poetic responses to our world today. Their diverse reflections cover birth and death, youth and age, sickness and health, and landscape and memory. While some are light-hearted and comic, others are profound and moving. Accessible and rich in expression, Hepplewhite’s music proves a perfect partner, translating their message into a vibrant collective choral sound, uplifted by his abundant experience of writing for the theatre. Living Voices will engage anyone drawn to the telling interaction of contemporary life and art.

PREMIERES in 2025

APRIL
5th April, Exeter Festival Chorus, St Peter’s Church, Budleigh Salterton, 7.30pm
I Wake by Wendy Cope
https://exeterfestivalchorus.org.uk/index.php/whats-on

MAY
10th May, Gloucester Choral Society, Gloucester Cathedral, 7pm
Leaving by Pam Ayres
https://gloucesterchoral.com/concerts-and-events/parry-farewell/

17th May, Highgate Choral Society, St Michael’s Church, Highgate, 7pm
The Diarist’s Pages by Joseph Coelho
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/highgatechoral/a-season-to-sing-and-works-by-corp-vaughan-williams-and-more-un-numbered-seating/e-jqlrdo

JUNE
14th June, Wimbledon Choral Society, Wimbledon High School, 7pm
‘from: Gravity Archives’ by Andrew Motion
https://www.wimbledon-choral.org.uk/

21st June, Epsom Choral Society, St Andrew’s Church, Cheam, 7.30pm
True Story by Michael Rosen
https://epsomchoral.org.uk/future-concerts

26th June, Whitehall Choir, St Andrew Holborn, 7.30pm
Riddle by Alice Oswald
https://whitehallchoir.org/concerts/

JULY
5th July, Birmingham Bach Choir, Malvern Priory, 7pm
Song of Flight by Jamila Gavin
https://birmingham.bachchoir.com/concerts—tickets.html

5th July, Divertimento, St Nicholas Church, Warwick, 7.30pm
Tender by Mona Arshi
https://www.divertimento.org.uk/forthcoming-events/

5th July, Hexham Orpheus Choir, Hexham Abbey, (time TBC)
The Good Ship Attenborough by Roger McGough
https://hexham-orpheus-choir.org.uk/

12th July, Voices of Hope, Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm
Three Trees/Angel by Fiona Benson
https://alnwickplayhouse.co.uk/event/voices-of-hope/