“Exhilarating brilliance and kaleidoscopic variety”
Michael Church, The Independent
Our Mission
The African Concert Series London is a platform for the music of hundreds of African classical composers.
The African Concert Series fosters education across cultures, it is a place where everyone, adults and children, can learn about the African culture through its music.
The African Concert Series is a place that inspires the younger generation to explore their heritage; a place that shapes the way we see classical music.
Our History
In 2019 the award winning Nigerian-Romanian pianist Rebeca Omordia launched the world’s first ever African Concert Series in London, featuring ten monthly concerts at the October Gallery and the Africa Centre. The series was given recognition in 2022 by joining Wigmore Hall’s Family of Partners and the 2022/23 season saw The African Concert Series make Wigmore Hall its London home.
The programme of the series reflects the depth and diversity of African art music, the richly diverse genre of music which forms a bridge between Western classical music and traditional African music.
“Bringing African classical music to the Western audience was right from the start an endeavour meant to unravel the cultural diversity of the African continent, reflected in its music, and to create a platform for the African classical music to be performed”. Rebeca Omordia
“African Art Music makes a comeback” BBC World Service
The Curator’s Vision:
The African Concert Series in the Concert Hall 2019
Pianist Rebeca Omordia gives an insight into her role as a curator of the series:
“Africa is very colourful, quality which I have tried to emphasise in the programmes of The African Concert Series, through individually themed concerts: “Nigerian Odyssey”, “The South African Double Bass”, “African Art Song”, “String Quartets by African Composers”, “Arabesque: Piano music from the Arab world”, and many more. Our artists are internationally established musicians, pioneers of their own land”.
“Music for Lockdown 2020”
The African Concert Series returns in 2020 with an Online Edition on Facebook with performances streamed from Nigeria, USA, Cayman Islands, Hungary and the UK.
2021 African Concert Series: streamed worldwide live from October Gallery and The Africa Centre
The 2021 series took place during Lockdown 2021 and was streamed worldwide live from the venues,The Africa Centre and October Gallery
Patron Julian Lloyd Webber
“I am delighted to become a Patron of the wonderful African Concert Series. It’s a great initiative, which deserves to go from strength to strength and I look forward to hearing more fantastic music and performances.”
Julian Lloyd Webber, December 2020
Read here Julian’s article in The Guardian about the African Concert Series.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
The African Concert Series gratefully acknowledges the support of Arts Council England, Wigmore Hall, The Africa Centre London, Colourful Radio and Fourchiefs Media Productions.
theafricanconcertseries.co.uk 