25th Anniversary Appeal | Tenebrae Choir

Tenebrae is celebrating its 25th Anniversary, and we need your help to make this milestone unforgettable.

Through our 25th Anniversary Appeal, we’re aiming to raise £25,000 to bring an extraordinary anniversary season to life, featuring inspiring new commissions, special recordings, and anniversary performances that mark 25 years of exceptional music-making. Every gift, no matter the size, brings us closer to that goal.

We are so grateful for your support already, and thanks to your generosity, in mid-April we added performances of Path of Miracles from memory to our Anniversary season plans, so have increased our target to £35,000. Thank you so much for helping to make this possible.

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For a quarter of a century, Tenebrae has been a leading force in choral music, acclaimed for its distinctive sound, passion and precision, and dedication to excellence under the artistic direction of Nigel Short. Our anniversary season, running from September 2026 to August 2027, will honour this remarkable legacy while championing the future of choral music. Through a series of ambitious projects, which will sit alongside our regular touring and performance schedule, Tenebrae will celebrate this anniversary with audiences across the globe.

Investing in new music and sharing it widely takes real commitment. Every contribution from you will help cover essential project costs – composer and artist fees, rehearsal time, venue hire, producers and sound engineers – so that our artistic vision can be fully realised. Your donation will directly help turn our plans into performances and recordings; outcomes you’ll be able to hear and share during our 25th Anniversary season and beyond.

If you love our work, please consider donating to help us reach our target and make our anniversary year truly special. Every donation – large or small – makes a real difference.

25th Anniversary Projects

Our special 25th Anniversary projects include:

Four new commissions from Joby Talbot, Joanna Marsh, Jason Max Ferdinand and Owain Park.
Two new recordings to be toured throughout our Anniversary season:
- The Journey — featuring the four commissions and the winning work from our composition competition.
- Frank Martin’s breathtaking Mass for Double Choir.
A composition competition to uncover emerging talent. We’re delighted to include Sarah Henderson’s winning piece in our Anniversary recording and touring programme.
An Associate Artists Anniversary Concert, marking 10 years of the programme.
International performances of Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles from memory.

Benefits

We are incredibly grateful for any donations that we receive towards our 25th Anniversary projects, and want to thank you for your support. All donors will have access to exclusive updates on our Anniversary plans through our monthly newsletter. In addition you will receive:

£25 – 125

Your name on our website and printed literature as a 25th Anniversary supporter

£125+

A signed copy of our 25th Anniversary CD (and all above)

£250+

An invitation to our season launch party in London on 17th September 2026 (and all above)

£500+

An exclusive invitation to an open rehearsal and a meet-and-greet with the choir on 22nd or 23rd June 2026 in London, or 24th July 2026 in Ripon* (and all above)

£1000+

The opportunity to sing with Tenebrae in a rehearsal during our Anniversary season (and all above)

£2500+

A coffee or singing lesson with Nigel (in-person or virtual) (and all above)

* if you are donating from overseas and are unable to make our UK based rehearsals, please contact us after making your donation and we will look in to finding an alternative time for you to join us.

A Note from Nigel

It’s quite extraordinary to reflect on everything Tenebrae has achieved over the past 25 years. Watching the ensemble grow into what it is today has been a privilege, and heading into our Anniversary season, I feel excited and energised by what’s ahead: this juncture offers us a moment, not only to reflect on our past, but to invest boldly in the future. The new commissions, recordings, and special projects we have lined up in this busy and creative season celebrate a flourishing choral landscape, and I am immensely proud that we can play a part in shaping its continued evolution.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey so far, and I hope you’ll consider supporting our Anniversary projects, to make this year unforgettable.

Comments

Here's to the next 25 years of inspirational music making. Thank you for all the work you do for true mercy generation.
– AP

Thanks for everything!
– FF

Best choir in the world.
– TM

Wishing you all the best for the next 25 years! Thank you for your inspiring music.
– KG

Good luck with the fundraising. A great cause.
– SL

I am keen to support such a world class group.
– DE

Keep the faith - in music and all else!
– AN

You have brought us much pleasure and, in Path of Miracles in East Lothian, one of the most stunning live performances we have ever seen.
– PG

Love all that you do, especially the schools and young singers programme.
– SK

The best choir on the planet, long may your fabulous work continue.
– DB

We absolutely love your work - it makes a real difference to be able to hear you sing - thank you!
– LT

Thank you for sharing your graceful and melodious art
– SB

Tenebrae, it is a privilege to hear you and to support your outstanding music. Thank you, thank you!!
– GB

Thank you for your passion and precision and the wonderful concerts and recordings! Your music makes my life so much richer.
– CH

Tenebrae is an exceptional choir, they bring such joy
– FN

Happy birthday. Wonderful concert in Lübeck!
– PW

Thank you for your leadership, your obvious love of music, and the dedication to share the song throughout the whole world! Make a joyful noise :)
– CG

Your Donation

If you are donating from the US, please head to our US Supporters page to view our tax-efficient giving options.

View the Benefits

For any questions about our 25th Anniversary plans, or your donation, please contact our Development Manager Freya Firth-Robson on [email protected].