BBC Proms: Choirs on the Concourse with Jess Gillam
Voices. Layered. Feel it in your bones.
Who’s on stage
Sofi Jeannin conducts three amazing choirs: BBC Singers, Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Voices of the River’s Edge. They’re joined by saxophone superstar Jess Gillam for a host of goosebump-inducing performances.
What they’re playing
A full day of big choral sounds, including Hubert Parry’s Songs of Farewell, written during the First World War, and John Tavener’s Song for Athene - a piece of stillness and reflection, written in memory of a young life cut short.
BBC Proms in the North East is delivered in partnership with North East Combined Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority.
Need to know
Timings: 3 hours. Including two intervals.
Age: under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Venue: The Glasshouse, Gateshead.
Seating: This is a standing concert, but if you’d rather take the weight off your feet, a limited number of seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Just bear in mind we cannot guarantee a view of the stage.
Recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
What you'll hear
Charles Wood Hail, gladdening light
Hildegard von Bingen Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans
Christian Forshaw My soul, there is a country
Shruthi Rajasekar Sat on the shore
Iain Farrington Like as the waves
Caroline Shaw and the swallow
Charles Villiers Stanford The Bluebird
Roderick Williams: Never weather-beaten sail (BBC Commission: world premiere)
John Tavener Mother of God, here I stand
Alec Roth Night Prayer
Hubert Parry Lord let me know mine end
Interval
James Macmillan O Radiant Dawn
Dan Forrest Good Night, Dear Heart
Jussi Chydenius Deep In The Night
Frank Tichelli Earth Song
Elaine Hagenburg Alleluia
Elizabeth Poston The Water Of Tyne
Eriks Esenvalds Only In Sleep
Interval
Alfred Schnittke Concerto for Choir
Who's playing it
Jess Gillam saxophone
BBC Singers
Sofi Jeannin conductor
Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia
Tim Burke chorus director
Voices of the River’s Edge
Simon Davies-Fidler choir director
What's happening in the music?
This one surrounds you. Voices rising together. Splitting apart. Then finding each other again. Sometimes powerful enough to fill the whole space. Sometimes so quiet you lean in without noticing.
There’s weight here - history, loss, reflection. But also, lightness, joy and fun.
Stand in the middle of it and let it carry you.
BBC Singers
Renowned for their musicality and breadth of repertoire, the BBC Singers is one of the most versatile and sought after choral ensembles in the world. Since 1924, the ensemble has held a unique place at the heart of the UK’s choral scene, collaborating with many of the world’s leading composers, conductors and soloists. The group records music for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 alongside work for other network radio, television and commercial release. It presents annual series of concerts at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s Milton Court Concert Hall, performs free concerts across London and appears at major festivals in the UK and abroad. The ensemble was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Ensemble Award in 2024.
Voices of the River's Edge
Voices of the River's Edge
VOTRE (Voices of the River’s Edge) is a vibrant performance choir welcoming people aged 18–35 who want to experience the thrill of singing together and performing on some seriously prestigious stages. Formed for BBC Proms at The Glasshouse in 2022, VOTRE has continued to grow into a welcoming community of singers from across the North East.
At the heart of VOTRE is the joy of making music together — creating memorable performances, lasting friendships, and plenty of unforgettable moments along the way.
Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia
Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia is a vital part of the Royal Northern Sinfonia musical family at The Glasshouse. They shine in the great choral masterpieces by Handel, Haydn and Mozart, commission contemporary classical music by today’s brightest composers, and bring film scores to life at live screenings of Hollywood blockbusters such as Home Alone, Hocus Pocus and Star Wars.
Jess Gillam
Jess Gillam is a celebrated saxophonist and presenter. With her electrifying performances, vibrant stage presence and magnetic personality, the ‘uniquely mercurial’ (The Times) Jess has been invited to play on the world’s major stages since becoming the youngest ever soloist to perform at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Equally at home behind the microphone, Jess’ award-winning weekly show, This Classical Life, on BBC Radio 3 is now in its eighth season.
Jess is a familiar face here at The Glasshouse, from performances with Royal Northern Sinfonia and at ECHO Rising Stars Festival, plus annual Christmas concerts with her ensemble.
