Alone, together - London premiere

Concert programme:

Holst - Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda

Rubbra - A Hymn to the Virgin

Rubbra - Jesukin

Poulton Richards - Alone, together *London premiere*

Alone, together is a creative response to the concept of isolation. Levedy Ensemble as a group were affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, not least because they were unable to work together, rehearse and perform. The pandemic encouraged Levedy Ensemble think about groups and communities for whom isolation is a part of their every day life; such as hospitals, nursing homes and prisons. Levedy Ensemble wished to develop a project that allowed them to express the isolation they had experienced, whilst reaching out to and working with often-isolated communities.

Levedy Ensemble is passionate about championing the work of women in creative fields and commissioned rising female composer Shaye Poulton Richards to set seven poems written by female authors to music. The group also asked Shaye to write five accompanying soundscapes. The soundscapes, unlike the songs, are improvisatory, and use material written by Shaye to create artistic responses to the songs in the cycle. These soundscapes act as a tool through which Levedy Ensemble, partnered with charity Sing Inside, will work with isolated communities in prisons across the UK.

Levedy Ensemble is a voice and harp quintet formed by students and graduates of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Levedy Ensemble has found a niche performing works for upper voices with harp: in October 2020 they were announced winners of the inaugural Trinity Laban Carne Trust Chamber Music Competition and since have performed in venues in the UK and abroad with their most recent engagement being a collaboration with Lilium SoundArt Festival in Padua, Italy.