Chineke! Orchestra / Stewart Goodyear / Kellen Gray

Orchestral revolution

Driving change and celebrating diversity in classical music – that is the mission of Chi-chi Nwanoku’s Chineke! Orchestra. The London-born double bass player was asked in 2014 by the then Culture Minister Ed Vaizey why so few black musicians could be seen performing regularly on the world’s stages. »To be honest, I simply didn’t know«, says Nwanoku. One year later she formed Chineke! – Europe’s first orchestra predominantly made up of people of colour. However, it’s not only with regard to the performers that the orchestra brings more diversity to the classical music scene, which is still dominated by white people. Chineke!’s diversity is also reflected in their programmes, for example with works by composers of Afro-American heritage. One of many reasons why Chineke! has become one of the world’s most musically interesting ensembles.