The Marian Consort: TDN 2026
Short Project Title: New Music Programme: New Music Studio & Emerging Voices
Bio: The Marian Consort is a vocal ensemble known for bold, thrilling performances across the UK, internationally, and on digital platforms. Alongside its specialism in rediscovering early music, the ensemble is a leading commissioner of new work, reinvigorating the UK’s rich singing tradition and creating opportunities for exciting new voices.In recent years, The Marian Consort has premiered works by David Fennessy, Electra Perivolaris, Leo Chadburn, Laurence Osborn and Samantha Fernando, reaching new audiences through both performance and recording.
Programme Description: The Marian Consort is one of the UK’s leading commissioning vocal ensembles, with a catalogue of over 30 new works. Building on this, we have developed a dynamic New Music Programme: a two-tier initiative supporting composers at different stages of their careers. New Music Studio, our principal commissioning strand, creates and performs five new works each year. We work with outstanding UK composers – particularly those with limited experience writing for voices, or those looking to deepen their approach to vocal ensemble. Each work is developed collaboratively with our singers, performed across the UK, and recorded for future release. Alongside this, Emerging Voices is a talent development strand for early-career composers new to writing for vocal ensemble. Each year, three composers take part in a programme of workshops, mentoring, and creative exploration. They receive a commission for a short filmed work and dedicated time with our singers and a mentor composer to test and refine their ideas. Emerging Voices provides a pathway into New Music Studio, with participants offered a full commission on completion.