ORA Singers is collaborating with Tate Modern to launch an Emergency Composers’ Fund to provide work for composers whose incomes have been hard hit by the COVID-19 crisis.

ORA Singers has had a strong commitment to commissioning new music from its foundation, weaving contemporary music into programmes of works from other eras – in fact its stated aim is to commission 100 works by 100 living composers within 10 years.

The initiative is open to any composer who is resident in the UK, and each of the eight chosen composers will receive a £1,500 commission to write a new choral work inspired by a works of art specifically chosen by Tate Modern. You can find out more information at the ORA Singers website, and the eight artworks are:

Agnes Martin, Morning 1965
Helen Frankenthaler, Vessel 1961
Ibrahim El Salahi, Reborn Sounds of Childhood Dreams 1961-5
Henri Matisse, The Snail 1953
Lorna Simpson, Then & Now 2016
Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Untitled (Alhalkere)1989
Cildo Meireles, Babel 2001
Haegue Yang, Sol LeWitt Upside Down - Structure with Three Towers, Expanded 23 Times, Split in Three 2015

‘Coronavirus has had a catastrophic effect on the lives of composers, as it has for all freelance artists and musicians, clearing their diaries of work and any chance of an income for the foreseeable future’, said conductor Suzie Digby, the group’s Artistic Director. ‘We put commissioning at the heart of our work at ORA Singers, and our commitment to composers is more fervent now than ever before. Without their work and creativity brought to life at this time there is a danger that this extraordinary period of human history will be artistically mute.’

Frances Morris, Director of Tate Modern, added: ‘We have welcomed a dialogue between music and art on many occasions at Tate Modern and are especially delighted to encourage new work at a time of acute hardship’.

The choir has also today announced that former Cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt has appointed chair of the ensemble.