News
Stabat Mater
16th February 2025
On Saturday 15th February, Vox Anima Chamber Choir brought a moment of emotional reflection to its audience, performing Kim André Arnesen’s Stabat Mater at St Luke’s Church in Tunbridge Wells. It was the first time the Choir had performed in this venue - at the kind invitation of Rev David Green - and the singers were made to feel extremely welcome by David and the church community.
The performance was nuanced, sensitive and moving. Here are a few words from audience members:
"We had no idea what to expect, but as soon as we heard your first notes we thought, Ah, this is going to be special!"
"We wish we had known about you sooner!"
"Absolutely sublime - I don't have any other words to describe it."
"It was quite incredible."
"How you sang that I don't know... It was totally beautiful!"
"Just wow - there are no words!"
"I was completely blown away. It was so emotional and so beautiful."
"We would happily sit for another hour and listen to it all over again - now!"
“I’m going home very emotional.”
"The blending in of your voices was amazing."
"It was absolutely beautiful."
The Stabat Mater was beautifully interspersed with tender interludes of Chopin’s Prelude in E Minor played by Richard Hammond-Hall, creating moments of peace which allowed the audience time to reflect upon the themes of the music.You can listen to recordings from the concert on our YouTube channel.
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
