Women of the World Foundation to celebrate 15 years with world premieres

Gender equality charity the Women of the World Foundation is set to premiere two new commissions at its 15^th anniversary concert on International Women’s Day at the Royal Albert Hall. As well as a newly commissioned organ fanfare by Isobel Waller-Bridge, the concert will feature a new choral commission by Errollyn Wallen CBE.

Opening the event, Wallen’s piece for choir and organ is a celebration of women, girls and non-binary people everywhere, with music and lyrics inspired by the work of WOW. It will be performed by an intergenerational choir made up of 150 women, girls and non-binary people aged between eight and 80 years from Mulberry School for Girls, St Boniface School and Lips, a London based trans-inclusive women’s choir.  

Wallen said: ‘I am delighted to be part of WOW 15 and honoured to be contributing a new work that celebrates WOW’s commitment to gender equity across the world. I look forward to sharing a musical moment of powerful solidarity and energy with the audience in the astonishing Royal Albert Hall.’

Waller-Bridge’s new fanfare will be performed on the Royal Albert Hall’s 153-year-old 9,999 pipe organ written organist, conductor, broadcaster and composer Anna Lapwood and will form part of a programme of conversation, storytelling, music and performance led by WOW Founder Jude Kelly CBE. The full list of guest speakers, activists and artists is yet to be announced, but WOW has confirmed that activist Angela Davis will make a rare UK appearance as one of the event headliners.