Chineke! Orchestra
Founded in 2015 by Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE, the Chineke! Orchestra is Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra.
Guided by the motto ‘championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music’ Chineke! performs standard orchestral repertoire along with the works of Black and ethnically diverse composers both past and present.
The orchestra made their debut right here at the Southbank Centre, with a September 2015 concert in our Queen Elizabeth Hall. They were appointed as one of our Associate Orchestras from the beginning, and in 2022 became one of our Resident Orchestras.
Chineke! Orchestra works closely with its sister ensemble, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, a youth orchestra of Black and ethnically diverse players aged between 11 and 22, with senior players acting as mentors, teachers and role models to the young musicians. The youth orchestra gives junior players experience, encouragement and confidence during their formative years, with the hope of increasing the number of Black and ethnically diverse candidates currently studying music at third level.
Upcoming events
Chineke! Orchestra: Arabic Symphony
Performers
Chineke! Orchestra
Fawzi Haimor conductor
Armand Djikoloum oboe
Axelle Fanyo soprano
Repertoire
Valerie Coleman: Umoja - anthem of unity
Osman: The Shepherd's song for oboe & strings
Ravel: Shéhérazade
Interval
Kareem Roustom: Ramal
The Ayoub Sisters: Arabic Symphony (London premiere)
Chineke! Orchestra: Hailstork + After Dark
Performers
Chineke! Orchestra
Tatiana Pérez conductor
Plínio Fernandes guitar
Repertoire
Stravinsky: Suite No.1 for chamber orchestra; Suite No.2 for chamber orchestra
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar & orchestra
Interval
Eliana Echeverry: Canalete (World premiere)
Adolphus Hailstork: Symphony No.1
After Dark: Samba Café – Chineke! Orchesta
Performers
Players from Chineke! Orchestra
Braimah Kanneh-Mason violin
Plínio Fernandes guitar
Repertoire
Sérgio Assad: Valseana
Reis: Xodó da Baiana
Sérgio Assad: Menino
Piazzolla: Nightclub 1960; Café 1930 from L'histoire du tango
Paganini: Andante larghetto; Rondo from Terzetto in D
Chineke! Orchestra: Romeo and Juliet
Performers
Chineke! Orchestra
Stephanie Childress conductor
to be announced soprano
Repertoire
Coleridge-Taylor: Othello Suite, Op.79
Richard Thompson: The Shadow of dawn
Interval
Prokofiev: Selection from Romeo and Juliet, Op.64
Articles & video
Chineke! Orchestra make musical history
Watch the 2015 debut concert of Chineke! Europe’s first professional orchestra made up entirely of Global Ethnic Majority performers.
Meet the musician: Chi-chi Nwanoku
The double bass player and founder of Chineke! Orchestra explains what she loves about classical music, and the crucial importance of the audience.