A Celebration of Upper Voices and Female Composers
On Saturday 9 November, singers from across the UK gathered bright and early at St Peter’s Eaton Square for a day of singing, learning, and celebration. Hosted by Friends of the Vox together with Vox Anima Chamber Choir, this special event highlighted music for upper voices and works by female composers, guided by the exceptional expertise of workshop leaders Charles MacDougall and Emily Dickens. The event drew a wonderfully diverse group of participants, with choirs traveling from Birmingham, Bristol, and beyond, representing singers from across generations.
Under the inspired leadership of MacDougall and Dickens, the workshops explored an array of repertoire, with music featured by composers from around the world including works by Sarah Quartel, Tracy Wong, Kim André Arnesen, Eleanor Daley, and Elizabeth Poston. The day was skillfully accompanied by our fabulous pianist Richard Hammond-Hall, whose contributions added depth and energy to the experience.
The day culminated in an informal concert, where participants had the chance to showcase the pieces they had worked on throughout the day.
The concert also featured a stunning set by Vox Anima Chamber Choir, which showcased pieces by Eric W. Barnum, Zanaida Robles, Sarah Quartel, Jocelyn Hagen, and Karen Marrolli, providing a fitting finale to a day celebrating the richness of upper-voice repertoire.
A standout moment of the concert was the World Premiere of O Oriens by Emerging Composers Winner Anna Rocławska-Musiałczyk, marking a significant milestone in the choir’s commitment to promoting new works.
The event received glowing feedback from participants, who praised the inspiring workshops, warm atmosphere, and opportunity to connect with fellow singers:
“One of the best days of music making I've had in my life.”
“Listening to Vox Anima Chamber Choir’s performance was outstanding. The upper voices singers learnt so much during the day thanks to Emily and Charles’s excellent leadership.”
“The tuition from Emily and Charles was outstanding and it was lovely to meet new singers.”
“It was utterly inspiring, both the workshop for us as singers, and also hearing Vox Anima Chamber Choir, which the students were blown away by.”
This celebration of music, collaboration, and creativity is a testament to the vibrancy of the upper voices community and Vox Anima’s dedication to fostering talent and innovation. We are looking forward to organising to more events, so stay tuned for future announcements.
