Every year The Multi-Story Orchestra hosts a massed choir project where children from across the country join our musicians and give a performance of an original work. But this year we thought we’d look at things from a different perspective, in fact we are hoping this year’s project makes the world of difference….

In autumn we offered the pupils the chance to take part in an online virtual choir and orchestra performance. Through online sessions led by our choir leader Penny Osmond, pupils had the opportunity to learn a new piece of music and experience singing it with a full professional orchestra (albeit virtually!) The World Awakens is a brand-new work by composer Kate Whitley and is a vision of the Earth recovering from the harmful effects of climate change. It is the final movement of Our Future In Your Hands - commissioned by Buxton International Festival and The Royal Over-Seas League.

The digital recording and animation was featured in the Gaia festival at Gloucester Cathedral on the 29th of October, and accompanied the installation by artist Luke Jerram.

The World Awakens premiered online in December and you can watch it right HERE

This project has been carried out in partnership with Strike a Light and Southwark Music Hub.

Composer - Kate Whitley
Text - Laura Attridge 
Animation - Mary Martins
Sound Engineer – Steve Pycroft 

Soloists

Kate Royal - Soprano
Sarah-Jane Lewis – Soprano
Matthew Rose – Bass 

Generously Supported by Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The Hilden Charitable Fund and the John and Susan Bowers Fund.  

With huge thanks to the schools that made up our virtual choir:

Highnam C of E Primary Academy, Gloucester
Newent Community School, Gloucester
St Peter’s High School, Gloucester
Harris Primary Academy Peckham Park
John Donne Primary School, Peckham
Kender Primary School Lewisham
Peckham Academy of Music
Peckham Free School
St Thomas’ the Apostle School, Peckham