Draft:Citizens of the World Choir (COTW)
 | This article may incorporate text from a large language model. (November 2025) |
| Citizens of the World Choir | |
|---|---|
| Choir | |
| Origin | London, United Kingdom |
| Founder | Lord Roger Roberts of Llandudno, Becky Dell, Tom Donald |
| Genre | Choral |
| Members | ~50 |
| Notable members | Emily Watson OBE (patron), Lord Roger Roberts of Llandudno (patron) |
| Website | citizensoftheworldchoir |
The Citizens of the World Choir (COTW) is a London-based community choir founded in 2017 for refugees, displaced people, and their allies. The ensemble is composed of around 50 singers representing more than 30 nationalities and has performed at major UK festivals and venues including the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival, the Barbican Centre, and the Platinum Party at the Palace in 2022.[1][2]
Background and formation
[edit]The choir was set up in 2017 after volunteers had been working with refugees following the demolition of the Calais refugee camp and during campaigns related to the Dubs Amendment.[3] Lord Roger Roberts of Llandudno supported the initiative, which was developed by Becky Dell FRSA, Tom Donald, and others. Initially run by volunteers, the organisation became a Community Interest Company in July 2019.[4]
From 2020 onwards, the choir has received funding from Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund, and the City Bridge Foundation, among others.[5]
Structure and membership
[edit]The choir does not hold auditions and has approximately 50 members, roughly half of whom are refugees or asylum seekers. Members range from 18 to 84 years old and come from over 30 countries.[6] Rehearsals take place weekly in Greenwich, with additional sessions before performances. The organization provides travel costs, costumes, and refreshments for refugee members, and offers support to help displaced members settle in the UK.[7]
Notable performances
[edit]The choir has performed at several prominent events:
- Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury Festival (2025)[3]
- Recording with Ed Sheeran (2024)[4]
- The Great British Bake Off Christmas Special (2023)
- Platinum Party at the Palace (2022)
- Glastonbury Festival with Elbow, broadcast to audiences of 13 million by the BBC (2022)
- The Barbican with Headlong, Shakespeare’s Globe, and Royal Opera House as part of the Little Amal project (2023)[5]
Funding
[edit]Since 2020, COTW has received funding from Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund, City Bridge Foundation, Royal Borough of Greenwich, and various trusts including the Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund, London Community Response Fund, and the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust.[6]
Recognition
[edit]The choir has received several awards, including:
- London Dangoor Awards – "Outstanding Services to Faith and Belief Communities in Greater London" (2024)
- Royal Borough of Greenwich Leaders Special Civic Award – "Outstanding contribution to arts, culture & entertainment" (2022)[7]
- Shortlisted for the Community Integration Awards (2021)[8]
Patrons and leadership
[edit]- Becky Dell FRSA - Co-founder, CEO, and conductor
- Lord Roger Roberts of Llandudno - Patron
- Emily Watson OBE - Patron
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Tommasini, Anthony (4 September 2020). "Choirs Adjust During the Coronavirus". The New York Times.
- ^ "Citizens of the World Choir". Barbican. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ "Good news this week: Penny Lancaster, Lily Allen and more". inews.co.uk. 2021.
- ^ "Citizens of the World Choir feature on Ed Sheeran single". BBC News. 2024.
- ^ "Citizens of the World Choir interview". Headlong. 2023.
- ^ "Project: Citizens of the World Choir". National Lottery. 2021.
- ^ "Citizens of the World Choir album & single launch". Royal Borough of Greenwich. 2022.
- ^ "Our Online Journey". Refugee Week. 2021.
External links
[edit]Category:Musical groups established in 2017 Category:Community choirs Category:Refugee aid organisations in the United Kingdom