The 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth will be cause for much celebration this year, not least by choirs and orchestras. Shakespeare's plays and sonnets have inspired hundreds of works – from Verdi's Otello to Vaughan Williams's Serenade to Music and Thomas Adés's The Tempest – and so the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust are launching 'Singing Shakespeare', a new three-year global singing project designed to inspire choirs and composers.  

The 'Singing Shakespeare' launch concert will take place on April 24 at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, and will feature three local choirs – Stratford-upon-Avon Chamber Choir, Holy Trinity Church Choir and Cantare – performing various Shakespeare settings and all will come together for a finale of Vaughan Williams's Serenade to Music, conducted by David Wordsworth.

Central to 'Singing Shakespeare' project will be the commissioning of new music. The first such commission, by composer Gary Carpenter, will be premiered at the launch concert. Gramophone's readers will know Carpenter through a very well-received recording of his orchestral works performed by Ensemble 10/10, released by NMC in 2007. Our critic Richard Whitehouse wrote at the time that the 'playing and recording leave nothing to be desired, and Carpenter's notes are as entertaining as his music. Those unfamiliar with the latter have now no excuse not to make its acquaintance.'

For further information, and to get involved, visit the 'Singing Shakespeare' website.