A Weekend of Cultural & Musical Exchange
To develop their international outreach work, Vox Anima Chamber Choir partnered with Concentus Women’s Choir from Rochester New York to host a weekend of cultural and musical exchange.
All members of the visiting choir were partnered with Vox Anima Chamber Choir and their family members for the weekend. Visits to local village pubs and British BBQs were on the agenda for the first night before everyone participated in a “Walk & Sing” event through the Kentish countryside.
The choirs then had a fabulous afternoon workshop session with their conductors, James Meaders & Anna Atwater, where they spent time refining their combined sound and working on the repertoire for their concert the following day at St Augustine’s Chapel in Tonbridge.
During the concert, the choirs performed their own sets, and then united to sing a joint programme featuring music by Elaine Hagenberg, Ola Gjeilo, Abi Betinas, and Cecilia McDowall’s “Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo” (who we were delighted to see in the audience).
This concert also saw the World Premiere performance of “Being Me'“, a piece composed by Joanna Gill and specially commissioned by Vox Anima Chamber Choir for this very weekend of cultural and musical exchange, made possible by our generous supporters. The text comes from a poem by Joshua Edwards, and explores the struggle that many of us face with our mental health, whether on personal basis or seen through our family and friends. We were delighted that Joanna was able to be with us in the audience, and all members felt honoured to share this special piece and moment togehter.
This exchange weekend was the culmination of a very exciting season for Vox Anima Chamber Choir, and felt particularly pertinent after the pandemic, where both travel and, for a long time, singing were not viable.
Helen Steel, singer with Vox Anima Chamber Choir, said of the experience:
“This exchange and collaboration with Concentus Women's Chorus was a profound choral and cultural experience. We knew we shared a common passion for chamber singing and exploring new music written for women's voices, but we couldn't have anticipated the close bonds we would develop when we came together here in England. New life-long friendships were formed, and together we were able to share our deeply personal experiences and bring fresh perspectives to repertoire of such significance and poignancy. It felt like we had been singing together for years, not hours, when we took to the stage together. To be able to perform Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo in the presence of the composer Cecilia McDowall, and to collectively give the world premiere of a new work by Joanna Gill, commissioned specially for the occasion, was a true honour. These are works that need, and deserve, to be shared with the world.”
Friends of the Vox and Vox Anima Chamber Choir are excited to build upon this connection and collaboration with Concentus and one day travel to Rochester, NY, to make music together once more.
