On June 29, A Choir of Our Time will bring together 300 singers from community choirs across Lambeth and Southwark to perform Sir Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time. An initiative of Morley College, where Tippett served as director of music from 1940, the performance will also feature the BBC Singers and London Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert at London’s Royal Festival Hall will form part of Southbank Centre’s Nucleo weekend, one of several themed weekends during the summer-long Festival of Neighbourhood.

A Choir of Our Time will involve eight established community choirs and a brand new choir, the Local Vocals, open to all residents in Lambeth and Southwark regardless of experience. All community singers taking part will have access to online resources and masterclasses led by the BBC Singers. In addition, music publisher Schott has permitted new arrangements of Tippett’s Spirituals from A Child of Our Time, making them more accessible to the wide range of abilities involved.

‘I am thrilled to be leading A Choir of Our Time, bringing a community together through the pure joy of singing,’ said Morley College director of music Andrea Brown. ‘It is an honour for me to follow in Michael Tippett’s shoes as director of music at Morley and to conduct this seminal piece. I hope that A Choir of Our Time will be a fitting tribute to Tippett and his passion for community, humanism and peace.’

The Southbank Centre’s Festival of Neighbourhood runs until September 8, and was launched on May 4 with an outdoor performance of Parry’s Jerusalem and Purcell’s Come ye Sons of Art by 1500 singers. See pictures in Gramophone’s gallery.