An Evening With Chineke! At Wigmore Hall, London
On 19th November, the Chineke! Chamber Ensemble performed to a live stream at Wigmore Hall in London. The Chineke! Foundation was created by Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE in 2015 to provide outstanding career opportunities to established and up-and-coming Black, Asian and ethnically diverse classical musicians in the UK and Europe.
Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, a former student at Kendrick School, has this say about the project: ‘My aim is to create a space where Black, Asian and ethnically diverse musicians can walk on stage and know that they belong, in every sense of the word. If even one Asian, Black and ethnically diverse child feels that their colour is getting in the way of their musical ambitions, then I hope to inspire them, give them a platform, and show them that music, of whatever kind, is for all people.’
The Chineke! Orchestra, the Foundation’s flagship ensemble, works closely with its sister ensemble, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, a youth orchestra of Asian, Black and ethnically diverse players aged between 11 and 22, with senior players acting as mentors, teachers and role models to the young musicians. Her work with the Chineke! Foundation in helping to increase diversity and inclusion within the classical music industry.
A recording of the live stream can be viewed in the link below, please forward to 18 minutes for the start of the performance.