In 2016, London Oriana Choir launched a ground-breaking venture championing the talent of women composers in the UK,  whose impact continues to the present day.

 

The heart of the five15 project was the commissioning of 15 choral works (a capella and orchestral) from five women over five years (extended to six due to the pandemic), but also included increased programming, educational projects, recordings and other initiatives to raise the profile of classical music written by women and encourage the talents of new writers.

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Key achievements were:

 

• Composers commissioned were Cheryl Frances Hoad, Rebecca Dale, Jessica Curry, Anna Disley-Simpson (chosen by a competition amongst 18-24 year olds) and Hannah Kendall, representing a variety of musical styles, ages and backgrounds, exposing the choir to different disciplines.

• Performed many of the commissions several times, not just in London but also in annual UK and European tours and they remain in our repertoire.

• Increased concert programming of works by women composers, which continues today, totalling 125+ pieces by over 60 mainly contemporary women since 2016, crossing genres, and again many performed several times.

• During Covid, several works received worldwide exposure during online lockdown concerts which are still available on our YouTube channel. Zoom chats were enjoyed with several high-profile composers during online rehearsals, including Canadian Eleanor Daley and US singer-songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman..

• Renowned composer Cecilia McDowall was appointed Patron in 2021.

• Organised a Women Composers Festival featuring an all-women programme at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2022, performing five15 unaccompanied works alongside other choirs from around the country.

• 'Her Voice' album of the unaccompanied pieces commissioned was released in July 2024 as part of the choir’s 50th anniversary celebrations, available across all major streaming programmes and on CD. The anniversary also saw a gala performance of a new commission from Cecilia McDowall.

• Inspiring one of our members, Tara Mack, to begin composing  - as a direct result of five15.  She is now part of an in-house team of new composers in the choir, both male and female, whose works the choir has performed at its concerts.  The Choir is commissioning a new work from Tara in 2026.

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Find out more:

• The need for the project - results of our survey into awareness of women composers

• Composers and commissions

• Resources and Media

• Project supporters​

 

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