Manchester Collective: Patterns in Repeat
Embrace a bold sound-world as Manchester Collective brings to life works by outstanding contemporary women composers including Cassie Kinoshi and Meredith Monk.
Rhythm begins with the body. For these composers, music is an embodied, grounding experience. It’s in the vibrations of our vocal chords, and in our heartbeats.
Classical music wasn’t big enough to contain Meredith Monk. Best known for her vocal acrobatics and influencing the likes of Björk, her work stretches into choreography, film-making and theatre.
Here, the collective performs a rare treasure: the flickering instrumental piece Backlight.
Improvisation, human connection and Black culture are at the heart of Cassie Kinoshi’s practice. She darts between spaces: London’s thriving jazz scene and Berlin, leading bands as a saxophonist, and composing for theaters such as the Globe. This vibrant mix of influences flows through her brand-new piece for mixed ensemble.
Often taking meditative singing as her starting point, Cassandra Miller taps into music that lies deep within us. Perfect Offering was penned in the throes of illness, exploring the passage of time while our body remains inert.
Cassie Kinoshi’s new work is commissioned by Manchester Collective with support from their Commissioning Club.
Manchester Collective is a Southbank Centre Resident Artist for Classical Music: Spring/Summer 2026.
Performers
Manchester Collective string quartet, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, piano, electronics
Repertoire
Meredith Monk: Phantom strings from Stringsongs *
Cassandra Miller: Perfect Offering
Clarice Assad: Continuum from Sonic Landscapes
Interval
Cassie Kinoshi: ARTEFACT/AUTOMATON (London premiere)
Meredith Monk: Backlight
Need to know
Cassie Kinoshi is not appearing as a performer at this event.
* Please note change of repertoire from originally advertised.
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For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
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Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.