New choir to launch next month

New professional vocal ensemble, Vox Urbane, will give its inaugural concert in London on 16 April. The new group is comprised of 16 artists who have performed with leading UK choirs.

Established in response to the current lack of diversity in classical music, Vox Urbane’s initial focus will be on gender and ethnic diversity, aiming to ‘reflect a complex urban tapestry’. At its launch the choir is prioritising outreach projects, with its outreach education programme, Vox Roots, and with its Vox Next Gen group which will perform at next month’s inaugural concert.

principal conductor Dan Ludford-Thomas, who co-founded the ensemble with artistic director Helen Meyerhoff, said: ‘Whilst there are already instrumental groups with comparable missions, no other vocal ensembles exist which fulfil this purpose. As a man of mixed heritage, I have long been troubled by the lack of racial diversity in classical choral music in the UK. In order for this industry to reflect the rich diversity of our society, those who come into it should be able to see others like themselves. It is my hope that we can be an example, and provide a pathway to others who wish to follow a life in music, from all backgrounds.’

At the launch concert, which will take place at Peckham’s Asylum Chapel, the choir will present a programme of works by composers including Judd Greenstein, Philip Glass, Poulenc, Meredith Monk, Shruthi Rajasekar, Joanna Marsh, Barbara Dudek and Dan Ludford-Thomas in an effort to ‘recontextualise and make relevant choral music for new audiences.’ Vox Urbane will also give the UK premiere of a new work by American composer Tara Mack in next month’s concert.