Having originally formed for a one off charity concert, Voices of Hope have since earned wide-spread recognition and success, most notably being championed as 2016 National Choir of the Year and 2017 Let the Peoples Sing finalists. The choir have been thrilled to perform in distinguished venues including Sage Gateshead, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Cardiff Millennium Centre and Helsinki’s Musiikkital
o. Additionally, Voices of Hope have contributed several broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and have been televised on BBC 4.
2019 highlights include performances in Mainz, Germany; at the City of Derry International Choir Festival and a Remembrance Day concert presented by Eriks Esenvalds. With a keen sense of North East identity and an extensive appreciation across the region, Voices of Hope have twice been nominated as Performing Artist of the Year finalists in the Journal Culture Awards. The choir regularly perform original music by local composers, having premiered works by Ian Stephenson, John Kefala-Kerr and Kathryn Tickell. In 2018, the choir released its second album ‘A New Christmas’ featuring six seasonal commissions by composers from the North East. Voices of Hope regularly enjoy collaborations with celebrated composers and conductors including John Rutter, Will Todd and Neil Ferris. A performance of John Rutter’s Requiem (conducted by John Rutter) at St James’ & St Basil’s Church Fenham, was described by the composer as ‘music making of the highest order - engaging, inspiring and a joy to the ear’.
