The Westminster Choir will perform the piece in memory of the late composer, who had ties with Westminster Choir College for over 20 years before his death in March of this year. The choir will be joined by the New England Symphonic Ensemble and additional choirs to bring the full orchestral version to life.

Educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, James Whitbourn was an internationally renowned choral composer. His most famed work was Annelies, the first major choral setting of The Diary of Anne Frank, made its U.S. premiere at Westminster Choir College in 2007 and was nominated for the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance.

The Requiem, which was commissioned by Rider University in New Jersey, incorporates existing musical material written for Dr James Jordan, the current Professor Director of Choral Studies at Westminster Choir College, who was a longtime friend of Whitbourn, and was partly orchestrated by John Rutter who himself is an honorary fellow of Westminster Choir College.

Dr Jordan says ‘Now it falls to Westminster Choir to premiere what now was his final work’, going on to add ‘Few choirs have such a privilege. James Whitbourn loved Westminster Choir College and its students. This will be our thanks and gift to our cherished friend and musical partner. We know the musical world will be listening’.

Tickets for the performance of James Whitbourn’s Requiem on April 13 can be found on the Carnegie Hall website.