Mixed Up Chorus welcomes composer and librettist for exciting new project

The Mixed Up Chorus, 3FF’s intercultural and intergenerational choir, is delighted to be working with composer Mike Roberts and librettist Sarah Grange for an exciting project next year. The pair will be instrumental in orchestrating the Mixed Up Chorus’ brand new project, Singing Our Lives, exploring voices behind Camden’s migrant and refugee communities.

Singing Our Lives involves the creation of a new song series and musical resource for community choirs and schools, exploring migrant and refugee stories here in the UK. Both Mike and Sarah will work alongside members of the Mixed Up Chorus, one of 3FF’s flagship programmes, at a series of creative musical exchange workshops with community groups who work with migrants and refugees. The content from the workshops will then be used towards the creation of two to three new songs exploring the theme of migration. Members of the choir, alongside community and migrant groups partaking in the project, will perform at a gala launch event in Summer 2017.

Mike Roberts is an esteemed composer, producer, arranger and pianist, having been previously commissioned by the BBC, ITV, CNN, Pace Productions, Warner/Chappell Music and Warner Classic to name a few. Mike also has extensive experience within education, as a current Professor of Music at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, in addition to his work supporting various children’s projects. With a highly commendable, diverse musical and educational background, including experience of supporting community-led projects, we are encouraged to be working alongside and benefitting from the creativity and expertise that Mike has to offer.

Sarah Grange is a multi-disciplinary artist who has worked in a variety of live performance contexts, using an eclectic mix of theatre and art practice centred around text, song and sound. Having worked collaboratively alongside composers, film-makers, musicians and designers, Sarah is passionate about bringing diverse people together and facilitating groups of artists to successfully create live work. We look forward to the positive impact and expertise Sarah will undoubtedly bring towards both the Singing Our Lives project and the Mixed Up Chorus as a whole.

Mike said: “It’s a real honour to be trusted as the composer for this visionary project and I’m excited to be collaborating with such a unique combination of choir, director, librettist and community groups.  Now more than ever we need to come together in unity, breaking down the walls that so evidently divide our society.  Nothing is more compelling than real life human stories and nothing is more powerful in transversing boundaries than music.  With ‘Singing Our Lives’ I believe 3FF have hit upon a powerful combination in championing the value, contribution and common humanity of the UK’s diverse migrant communities.  In giving a voice to the often marginalised and misunderstood, I have high hopes that together we can make great strides on the road to cross-cultural accord and a more integrated society.”

We are excited to be welcoming Mike and Sarah to the project and eagerly anticipate working with them next year.