News
Friends of the Vox Emerging Composers 2024
3rd September 2024
It is going to be an absolute privilege for Vox Anima Chamber Choir to learn, perform and record three new pieces for treble voices, composed by the prize winners in the Emerging Composer Call for Scores 2024.
Friends of the Vox, in collaboration with Dan Forrest, has announced the winners selected from an incredible 100 compositions submitted by composers from 19 countries.
1st Prize: Anna Rocławska-Musiałczyk_composer (Poland) - O Oriens
2nd Prize: Molly Ijames(US) - Song of the Oak
3rd Prize: Christopher Ryan Roncales (Philippines) - Alleluia
Anna’s first-prize winning piece, O Oriens, will be premiered at the Friends of the Vox Upper Voices Festival in November 2024 at St. Peter’s, Eaton Square, London, with Charles MacDougall and Emily Dickens. The second and third prize winning pieces will be premiered by Vox Anima Chamber Choir in spring 2025, and all three prize-winning pieces will be recorded by Vox Anima Chamber Choir at the VOCES8 Centre in London, May 2025.
Honourable mentions were also given to Rachel DeVore Fogarty (New York, US); Joshua Bauder (Minnesota, US); and David Brewer (Texas, US).
Many congratulations to the three winning composers, to those who received honourable mentions, and to everyone who submitted their music for adjudication. It is fabulous to see that new music for treble voices is alive and well across the world.
Congratulations Becca and Alex
8th August 2024
The choir send lots of love and congratulations to Becca (Alto 1) and Alex who tied the knot yesterday. The choir were thrilled to have been invited to sing as part of the service and also happened to have a little surprise up their sleeve for Becca at the reception, singing an arrangement of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, specially commissioned for the occasion. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful couple. xx
Getting away for a weekend of singing and connection
10th July 2024
Vox Anima Chamber Choir finished the season with a fabulous concert at St Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook, celebrating the power of women's voices. The choir then retreated to the tranquil setting of Fraser's in Egerton for a weekend of music, connection, and creative exploration. The best music is created through a strong sense of community and the choir regularly take time outside of their normal rehearsal schedule to develop this side of the group.
The weekend began with a celebratory post-concert dinner, where choir members shared laughter and stories. Some light-hearted activities offered a fun way for members to learn more about one another.
Saturday morning started for some choir members opting for an invigorating countryside run, while others enjoyed a more leisurely start to the day. The group came together to reminisce about the many memorable moments they’ve shared since the choir's inception, reflecting on the deep friendships and invaluable lessons that have shaped their journey and developed the choir so far.
The afternoon was dedicated to what the choir does best—singing! The group delved into Kim André Arnesen's Stabat Mater which they will be performing in the upcoming months, as well as rehearsing pieces for Alto 1 Becca’s wedding.
The day concluded with a team BBQ. It was a time for laughter, music, and togetherness, embodying the spirit of the retreat!
Sunday provided the choir with a chance to look to the future, engaging in sessions about the direction of the group and exciting ideas for future projects. The retreat ended with the choir energised and united, ready to bring their ambitious ideas to life—something they look forward to sharing with their supporters in the months to come.
Fly Higher...
27th June 2024
The choirs Fly Higher concert is just over a week away. They will be presenting an empowering programme that celebrates the power of women's voices. Join them for an evening of inspiring music.
Upper Voices Festival 09 November 2024
26th April 2024
Friends of the Vox is inviting upper voice singers and ensembles to join them for an Upper Voices Festival on 09 November 2024 in London.
Led by Charles Bèquignon-MacDougall and Emily Dickens, this Festival will be the perfect opportunity for singers and ensembles to develop their technique, work with our renowned workshop leaders on exciting repertoire by contemporary composers, and to collaborate with other upper voice singers and ensembles.
Vox Anima Chamber will be there and is looking forward to being part of the Festival.
You can find out more and sign up here.
Vicky's Ultra Marathon for Friends of the Vox
26th April 2024
On 4th May 2024 Vox Anima Chamber Choir's Soprano 2 Vicky is running an Ultra Marathon to raise funds for Friends of the Vox. She is taking on the 50km Run to the Sea Brighton, starting near Horsham, climbing over the South Downs and ending on Hove sea front. Please keep your fingers crossed for dry weather for her and if you can please make a donation to her Just Giving page to encourage her over the hills!
Emerging Composers Competition 2024
31st January 2024
Vox Anima Chamber Choir are thrilled to be supporting Friends of the Vox with their Emerging Composers 2024 competition. The choir will be premiering and recording the winning works which will be adjudicated by Dr James Meaders and Dan Forrest.
Find out more about the competition here.Workshop with Surbiton High School
27th January 2024
Vox Anima Chamber Choir were delighted to join a workshop with Surbiton High School organised by Friends of the Vox, to support the school's choir as they prepare for their upcoming performance of ‘Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo’ by Cecilia McDowall. They will be performing at Cadogan Hall as part of Vox Anima London’s concert for International Women’s Day. Several members of Vox Anima Chamber Choir will also be joining the students on stage on 06 March 2024.
The workshop was led by Dr James Meaders, supported by singers from Vox Anima Chamber Choir. Cecilia also attended and spoke about her inspiration for the piece, as well as her journey to becoming a composer.
Head of Instrumental Music at Surbiton High School, Mr Richard Hammond-Hall said ‘It was everything I hoped it would be and then some… Many colleagues and pupils commented on how inspiring Vox Anima Chamber Choir's commitment to the music, expressive face and relentless energy were. It’s certainly turbo charged the pupil’s preparation for 6 March.’
It's been quite a year!
1st January 2024
2023...what a year!
A US tour singing in Macon, Atlanta and New York. Such precious memories being hosted by First Baptist Church of Christ, Morningside Presbyterian Church and St. James' Church, Manhattan and performing LUX with Dan Forrest at the piano.
A London debut performing LUX as part of Vox Anima London's concert season, with the wonderful Elizabeth Mikhael flying in especially to join the performance on cello.
Welcoming Concentus Women's Chorus from Rochester, NY, to unite in song with new friends and performing Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo and new commission, Being Me, in the presence of the composers Cecilia McDowall and Joanna Gill.
Not to mention performances at St Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook and St Mary's Church, West Malling, a collaboration with Vox Populi and the launch of charity Friends of the Vox.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the choir this year - sponsors, audience and friends and families who have been with them every step of the way. And of course to their inspirational maestro Jamie Meaders and generous and talented collaborative pianist Richard Hammond-Hall
Here's to musical adventures to come in 2024. Happy New Year.
What delights me
16th November 2023
Vox Anima Chamber Choir are performing at St. Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook, as they present music by some of their favourite composers including their patron, Cecilia McDowall.
What a weekend!
10th July 2023
When Vox Anima's Music Director, Jamie Meaders, sent a speculative email to a like minded American women's chamber choir in Rochester, New York, about a possible exchange, he wasn't sure he would get a response. But... from that email, conversations blossomed and this weekend, the choir welcomed Concentus Women's Chorus to join them for musical and cultural exchange, and it has truly been a remarkable weekend. Neither choir could have realised how much two groups of strangers from opposite sides of the Atlantic could be so alike!
Yesterday's concert was a spectacular finale to a weekend when strangers became firm friends, voices came together as one, much laughter (and a few tears) were shared and beautiful new music was unveiled to the world.
A huge thank you to Vox Anima's Patron Cecilia McDowall and fellow composer Joanna Gill - Composer who both joined the choirs for yesterday's concert, when they performed Cecilia's powerful Everyday Wonders: The Girl From Aleppo and gave the world premiere of Being Me, the stunning piece commissioned with Joanna for the occasion. Vox Anima wish Concentus Women's Chorus safe travels back to the US and hope to sing with you again soon.
Take a look at the photos from the weekend in the gallery.
In Celebration of Everyday Wonders
26th June 2023
The choir is thrilled to be welcoming Concentus Women's Chorus from the Rochester, New York State, US, to join them for a weekend of singing and cultural exchange (7-10 July 2023). The choirs found each other through a shared passion for women's choral music and contemporary composers and after much chatting online will finally be meeting in person.
The choirs will join together to present a stunning programme of music in the glorious setting of St Augustine's Chapel at Tonbridge School on Sunday 9 July 2023 at 3pm.You can find out more about the concert here.
Southwark Cathedral 10 June 2023
24th June 2023
The choir were thrilled to perform at Southwark Cathedral on 10 June 0223. They were honoured to give the London premiere of Dan Forrest LUX: The Dawn From On High (upper voices setting) as part of Vox Anima London's 2023 concert season. Thank you to all the family, friends and followers who joined them at Southwark for the concert.
The choir are also feeling a rather chuffed because they managed to perform the full work from memory... not a folder in sight.
Thank you to Ben Tomlin for the wonderful photos of the concert which are now in our gallery.
So many exciting things...
29th May 2023
Vox Anima Chamber has a very exciting couple of months coming up. Not only will they be hosting the wonderful Concentus Women's Chorus from the US in July, but in less than two weeks, they will be making their London debut and performing the London premier of Dan Forrest's LUX: The Dawn from on High at Southwark Cathedral on 10th June 2023 as part of the Vox Anima London Spirit and Light Concert. You can hear the choir's World Premier recording of LUX on their You Tube Channel, but what better to hear it in person? You can get your tickets here.
Rehearsal Day
29th April 2023
The choir spent a great day together rehearsing intensively ahead of their London performance for Vox Anima London's summer concert series on 10 June, and our collaboration with Concentus Women's Chorus in July. A sunny lunch in the beautiful grounds of Sutton Valance School was a wonderful bonus.
Conducting Workshop
23rd April 2023
Vox Anima spent a wonderful couple of hours today singing for the choral scholars at St Mary's Church, West Malling in a conducting workshop led by MD Jamie Meaders.
The young musicians did a wonderful job making music with a group of strangers, developing their conducting skills under Jamie's tutelage. The choir learned so much from the experience too.
Thank you to the church's Director of Music, Vox Anima's accompanist Richard Hammond-Hall, for inviting the choir to be part of it.New York videos on the Vox Anima Chamber Choir YouTube channel
14th March 2023
The choir are thrilled that videos of their performance in New York are now on their YouTube channel. Head over and have a listen. A very big thank you to Simon Fowler for recording and producing the videos.
New York, you were fabulous!
19th February 2023
The choir are still on cloud nine after their concert at St James' Episcopal Church on Madison Avenue, New York, on Friday night. It was the most glorious setting for the musical finale to their US tour and an opportunity to collaborate with some fantastic instrumentalists and the Compestela Choir from the church.
They certainly managed to cram a lot into their time in New York – as well as the concert there was visits to museums and galleries (including the brilliantly crazy Ice Cream Museum), cocktails, trips up skyscrapers, running and general mooching in Central Park, boat trips, enjoying the culinary delights of the city and a trip to Broadway to see the Lion King.
It was a fabulous tour and Vox Anima are grateful to everyone who played a part in making it such a memorable trip.
Vox Anima visit Atlanta
15th February 2023
The choir has had an incredible time on the first leg of their US Tour in Macon and Atlanta, GA. They were welcomed into the hearts and homes of two church communities at First Baptist Church of Christ and Morningside Presbyterian Church, and made beautiful music with some of Dr Meaders' oldest friends and colleagues and their university and church choirs. It was made even more special because they were performing LUX: The Dawn from on High with composer Dan Forrest at the piano!
The choir are now in New York and will be performing again on Friday.
Less than a month to go!
16th January 2023
The countdown to the US tour is on and there is less than a month to go! Preparations are in full swing as the choir get ready to sing in Macon, Atlanta and New York. Vox Anima will be joining some fabulous choirs, so take a look at the events page for more details.
Another World Premier!
17th December 2022
Today the choir were privileged to perform yet another world premier! In the Bleak Midwinter, beautifully arranged by Dan Forrest, was a gift for the choir’s conductor, James, from his wife, Alex (soprano 2) and a number of other members of the choir. The performance also happened to coincide with James and Alex’s wedding anniversary, which made it incredibly special. You can listen to a recording of it here.
YouTube Channel
7th November 2022
Vox Anima Chamber Choir now have their very own YouTube channel. You will find their recording of the world premier of LUX:The Dawn From On High for upper voices by Dan Forrest and a few other little treats. Have a listen!
A World Premier - LUX: The Dawn From On High by Dan Forrest
30th October 2022
The choir performed a World Premier at their concert today, and it really was something incredibly special to be able to do. LUX:The Dawn From On High was originally composed by Dan Forrest for SATB choir, but following a commission by Vox Anima Chamber Choir and a consortium of international upper voice choirs, Dan rescored the work for upper voices. It was a true privilege for the choir to be able to sing this fabulous work and share it with the audience. It was a magical evening and it was just the first of many performances to come. The choir's next performance of the work will be in Atlanta, Georgia, together with a number of the other commissioning choirs and the composer himself!
Friends of the Vox
10th October 2022
Vox Anima Chamber Choir is very pleased to announce that they are now part of the charity "Friends of the Vox" - to find out more about the charity, please have a browse through their first Newsletter.
September 2022 Retreat Day
3rd September 2022
The choir hold regular retreat days and the latest at Yalding Church was a wonderful way to begin an exciting 2022/2023 season.
The choir came together for a day-long rehearsal as they began preparations for the 30 October concert, when they perform the world premiere of Dan Forrest Lux: The Dawn From On High for treble voices.
They also celebrated becoming a choir of 16, officially welcoming the wonderful Laura (Soprano 1) and Alice (Soprano 2) to the choir.
The choir has a big year ahead... a world premiere and their first overseas tour to America.
Singing with Vox Anima London
28th June 2022
What a treat for four members of the choir to meet Dan Forrest as they joined singers from the US, Spain, the Isle of Man and the UK to perform his Requiem for the Living with Vox Anima London at Southwark Cathedral. Vox Anima just love singing Dan's music and are very proud to be the lead commissioner on a new SSAA setting of another of his major works, Lux: The Dawn From On High. More news on that to come.
Turns out learning music in Farsi is quite a challenge!
29th April 2022
It has been quite a challenge for the choir to learn a piece in Farsi and there have been lots of discussions about the best way to memorise it and everybody did something a little bit different. These are the happy faces of a choir that has realised it can, indeed, sing the piece in Farsi from memory.
Hannah's Wedding February 2022
18th February 2022
What a privilege for Vox Anima to be invited by their own Sop 1 Hannah to sing at her wedding to the lovely Jack. Beautiful weather, a beautiful bride and the joy of singing the Sun Never Says by Dan Forrest. Not sure there was a dry eye left in the church. Oh, and Vox Anima couldn't let the day pass without recreating the All You Need is Love flashmob from Love Actually which the choir just happened to know was a long held dream for Hannah. Congratulations Hannah and Jack. xx