From today, the beginning of Advent, audiences can hear a contemporary carol every day in the lead up to Christmas, courtesy of the ORA choir.

The ORA Advent Calendar – available online at the choir's website – underscores the group’s commitment to new music; it has an ambitious plan to commission 100 new choral works over the next 10 years.

The calendar launched today with a work by John Rutter – composers to feature throughout the month will include Sally Beamish, Richard Allain, Morten Lauridsen, Cecilia McDowall and Arvo Pärt.

Suzi Digby, ORA founder and conductor, said: ‘Choral music is for life, not just for Christmas, and this is too good an opportunity to miss – 24 days to introduce and remind listeners of the stunning range of contemporary carols out there. We hope these will be the soundtrack of Christmas’ hence.’

The entire album will then be available for download, released by Harmonia Mundi, at the end of the year.