The London Oriana Choir is a choral group comprising around 120 singers, based in
London, England. It was formed in 1973 by Leon Lovett, who acted as conductor and musical director. David Drummond became the choir's musical director in 1996, and Dominic Ellis-Peckham began his term as musical director in September 2013. The choir has developed a following through performances at London venues including the
Royal Albert Hall,
Barbican Centre,
Royal Festival Hall and
Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank,
St Paul's Cathedral,
St Martin-in-the-Fields and
St James' Piccadilly. In 2016 the choir launched a five-year project 'Five 15' to promote the work of women composers with 15 new commissions from five composers, workshops and recordings. The five commissioned composers-in-residence were
Cheryl Frances-Hoad (2016/17), Rebecca Dale (2017/18),
Jessica Curry (2018/19), Anna Disley-Simpson (2019-2021), and
Hannah Kendall (2021/22). Composer
Cecilia McDowall accepted the role of Patron of the choir in 2021. The choir celebrates its 50th anniversary in the 2023/24 season and has commissioned a new piece from Cecilia McDowall, to be premiered at a gala concert at
St John's Smith Square in March 2024.
The choir tours regularly and since 2015 has performed in Portugal, Germany, Malta, Poland, and Italy.
Notable performances
Under Dominic Ellis-Peckham
Celebrating the end of the Five 15 women composers initiative in July 2022 with a Women Composers Festival concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, with guest choirs and a number of women composers.[1]
Performing the world premiere of
Eric Whitacre's piece The Perfect Gift commissioned by
Maggie's charity for a virtual carol concert in December 2020.
Opening the
BAFTA Games Awards ceremony in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, with a performance of The End of All Things by previous Award winner
Jessica Curry.
Launching a five-year project 'Five 15' to promote the work of women composers in the Sammy Ofer gallery of the
Cutty Sark, in Greenwich in July 2016.[3]
Missing God, a work by composer
Sophie Viney commissioned under the Society for the Promotion of New Music's Adopt a Composer programme, and performed at
St Martin-in-the-Fields in 2003 [5]
Leon Lovett directed the choir from its inception until 1996. During this time, the choir regularly performed at the
Royal Albert Hall, on BBC television and venues around London.
Recordings
E-single (2022): 'In the blue' by Anna Disley-Simpson (first release of a piece commissioned under the choir's Five15 initiative).
E-singles (2019): 'In the stillness' by
Sally Beamish, 'Vespertilians' by
Jocelyn Hagen, and 'Laus Trinitati' by Felicia Sandler
"From Babylon to Brazil" (2015) featuring the world premiere recording of
Toby Young's 'Ave Regina Caelorum'
"The Lady Oriana" (2016) featuring 'O nata lux' by award-winning composer
Kerry Andrew.
"Nativitie", a Christmas album released in 2012. Includes the premiere recording of
Kenneth Leighton's "Nativitie".
^"Armstrong Gibbs Odysseus". Cecil Armstrong Gibbs "Odysseus" & George Dyson "Four Songs for Sailors", BBC Concert Orchestra and London Oriana Choir. Dutton Vocalion. Archived from
the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2013.