A youth orchestra, created to develop black, Asian and ethnically diverse classical musicians, has reached the semi-finals of the TV talent series, Britain’s Got Talent.
The London-based Chineke! Junior Orchestra comprises ethnically diverse musicians aged between 11 and 22 years. Part of the Chineke! Foundation, it is the sister ensemble to the Chineke! Orchestra, offering opportunities to musicians of black, Asian and ethnically diverse heritage.
Many of the Junior Orchestra’s musicians are also members of youth schemes, junior music colleges and specialist music schools across the UK. The Chineke! project acts as a bridge for these young people towards higher musical education and several have gone on to the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music.
The Chineke! Trust was created by former sprinter and double-bassist Chi-Chi Nwanoku OBE to bring together exceptional musicians from across Europe.
Over five years, the Chineke! Orchestra has become as Associate Orchestra of the Southbank Centre and the Junior Orchestra has performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Clore Ballroom on numerous occasions. They have become a regular feature at major events and on television and among their alumni are the Kanneh-Mason siblings who are on the autumn programme at the Barbican soon.
A familiar sight on television through CeeBeebies appearances, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra won a coveted semi-final place in the Britain’s Got Talent competition at the end of August and will now perform over the coming weeks of the series.
The Chineke! Trust welcomes Grade 8+ young musicians to join the Junior Orchestra. It can be contacted at https://www.chineke.org/contact.
