The Chineke! Foundation was created by Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE in 2015 to provide outstanding career opportunities to established and up-and-coming Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians in the United Kingdom and Europe. Chineke!’s motto is: Championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music. The organization aims to be a catalyst for change, realising existing diversity targets within the industry by increasing the representation of Black and ethnically diverse musicians in British and European orchestras.

The Foundation’s flagship ensemble, the Chineke! Orchestra, comprises exceptional musicians from across the continent brought together multiple times per year. As Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, the Chineke! Orchestra performs a mixture of standard orchestral repertoire along with the works of Black and ethnically diverse composers both past and present.

Carlos Simon: Fate Now Conquers
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Violin Concerto in G minor, Op. 20 (Soloist: Elena Urioste)
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 (From the New World)

Andrew Grams, conductor
Elena Urioste, violin