Music / chineke! orchestra
Music inspired by Bristol civil rights campaigner
New music inspired by Bristol civil rights campaigner Dr Paul Stephenson OBE will have its global premiere in Bristol.
Chineke!, Europe’s first majority black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) orchestra, will perform the new work alongside music from Mendelssohn, Holst and Britten.
Founder Chi-Chi Nwanoku OBE says: “Chineke!’s residency at St George’s Bristol is one of the most important partnerships that we have.
is needed now More than ever
“We are delighted to be premiering this poignant new piece by James Wilson to remind us of the important work of Dr Stephenson which became the catalyst for the first race relations act in the UK.”
Dr Paul Stephenson © Sarah Koury – KoLAB Studios
Dr Stephenson is best known for leading the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott and was awarded an OBE for his services to equal opportunities and to community relations in Bristol. The Bristol Bus Boycott influenced the passing of the Race Equality Act in 1965 and recently featured on stage at Bristol Old Vic in Princess and the Hustler.
“Dr Stephenson is one of the anchors of the BAME community in Bristol. With this new commission we’re creating a classical music link to the heroes of our city and celebrating a person who is an inspirational role model,” says Dr Marie-Annick Gournet, a trustee at St George’s.
Dr Stephenson explains life was like in 1960s Britain for the BAME community: “If you were a young black person living in Britain then, you couldn’t be a policeman, an ambulance man or fireman. You couldn’t go into pubs, hotels and other public spaces and you couldn’t drive on the buses.
“I had been watching the amazing things that Martin Luther King had been achieving in America, and now I thought something had to be done here too.Every generation has a duty to fight against racism, otherwise it will find its way into our country and into our homes. Addressing this challenge is our duty if we wish to seek a happy and prosperous existence.”
More information and tickets to see Chineke! at St George’s on Friday, May 17 are available at www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/event/chineke-orchestra
Chineke! will also perform at the Malcolm X Community Centre on Saturday May 18 and more information can be found at www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/choose-seats/Chineke!
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
