A number of UK Premieres will highlight an impressive line-up of works by exclusively female
contemporary composers, in the London Oriana Choir’s concert on International Women’s Day.

First performances in Europe will be given that evening of works by American composers Libby Larsen
and Carol Barnett and of a piece by Uzbek-born Australian Elena Kats-Chernin. It will be only the second
performance of Grace Williams’s piece for male voices – and the first outside Wales.
Works by Canadian Eleanor Daley and British Judith Weir and Nicola LeFanu complete the programme.

Wren’s beautiful church of St Andrew’s Holborn will provide the atmospheric surroundings for this
celebration of contemporary choral music, promoting women composers on International Women’s Day.

“Verba Ultima” – an intense choral drama by Carol Barnett, uses soprano saxophone together with the
choir to portray a vivid scene of the crucifixion, while a wind quintet and piano will lend colour to Libby
Larsen’s “The Settling Years”, and to a new arrangement of “Ye Highlands & Ye Lawlands” by Grace
Williams.
“The Uninvited Stranger” by Elena Kats-Chernin (whose Eliza’s Aria is used in a well-known TV
Commercial for Lloyds-TSB) is set for double choir and two pianos in a disturbing, almost minimalist style.
“Rosa sine Spina” by Nicola LeFanu, “Requiem” by Eleanor Daley, and “a blue true dream of sky” by
Judith Weir will be sung a cappella.

The London Oriana Choir, described by The Observer as “expressive and enthusiastic”, is one of London’s
most exciting choral groups, performing frequently in all London’s major venues including the Royal
Festival Hall, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Royal Albert Hall, St. James’s Piccadilly and St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
The London Oriana Choir is well-known for performances of directness and emotional honesty. This
performance promises to be a moving and unusual occasion, putting in the spotlight some exciting and
unjustly neglected music.

Please note: First 50 tickets sold are £8, thereafter tickets are £10 in advance or £14 on the door.