The BBC has announced a sustainable plan for the future of the BBC Singers, its flagship choral ensemble, securing the continuing employment of its members. A year ago, the BBC announced the closure of the professional chamber choir, to the dismay of the musical community. The strong reaction to this decision included letters of condemnation from world-leading conductors, composers and ensembles which were further underpinned by a petition of almost 150,000 signatures from the general public.

In addition to the long-term plan for their in-house choir, the BBC are also exploring a plan for the broadcaster’s six orchestras. The BBC has been working closely with the Musicians’ Union and having ‘engaged in constructive talks over recent months’, the broadcasting corporation says it is considering the ‘resourcing levels which support each ensemble’ in order to ensure the ‘sustainability of the six groups amid the BBC’s ongoing financial challenges’.

The BBC Singers will be drawing on support from the VOCES8 Foundation, led by CEO Paul Smith, in an attempt to harness the Foundation’s experience across music education and community engagement. Smith, alongside the Foundation’s artistic director Barnaby Smith, said ‘The Voces8 Foundation was committed to a positive outcome for the future of the BBC Singers. The foundation looks forward to working together with the BBC Singers to demonstrate how choral music can positively impact communities in the UK and worldwide in the 21st century.’ This news coincides with the BBC Singers' 100th birthday this year, promising a busy schedule of engagements to come.