A London choir is breathing new life into group singing. Gone are the days of warbley, church choral societies; this choir aims to be modern and on-trend, reaching out to new, younger audiences with a fresh and forward-thinking approach. London Contemporary Voices (or LCV) have already supported a Grammy-award winner at the Royal Albert Hall. Now they’re looking for new singing talent and the next set of creative collaborations to work on.

“When people think of choirs, they think of a gaggle of silver-haired sixty-somethings straining their way through the Hallelujah Chorus. We think it’s time to give group singing a new image – one that isn’t aloof or evangelical – and one that shows an openness to engage with the other world-class arts that can be found in our city.”

Wandsworth Resident, Anil Kamalagharan, Chair and Co-Founder LCV originally formed as a scratch choir to support Grammy-award winning artist Imogen Heap at the Royal Albert Hall in November. Alongside the mighty Docklands Sinfonia, the new choir performed ‘Love The Earth’; a work celebrating the planet, written and conducted by Imogen Heap herself. The concert was recorded for release on DVD and streamed live on the internet to an audience of almost half a million.

“The ‘Love The Earth’ project was very exciting for everyone involved. How many choirs can say they did their first show at the Royal Albert Hall? We were lucky to have so many excellent singers on board – among them, Imogen’s mum! But perhaps the best thing was the spirit, energy and enthusiasm of the choir – that’s something we want to keep as we move into our next rehearsal season.”

Wandsworth Resident, Didier Rochard, Secretary and Co-Founder LCV believe it is their unique vision and friendly, outgoing attitude that will help them stand out from other choirs in the capital. With auditions in early April, the choir are looking to attract excellent singers who want to do something a bit different; play festivals, support other artists and bands, and generally bring choral music to the masses.

“We all know that a single human voice can do so much and can be used in the most extraordinary ways. Think then, what you can do with a group of voices! When that energy is harnessed, the results can be awe-inspiring! Choral music is dynamic; it’s exciting, it’s uplifting, it’s moving... both to listen to, and to perform... We want to share that. Why shouldn’t choral music be part of the mainstream?” Wandsworth Resident, John Vallance, Musical Director Based on information supplied by John Vallance.