Spring choral highlights at the University of Birmingham include premiere led by Bob Chilcott
The University of Birmingham has announced its spring 2026 music programme, centred around the tenth annual CrossCurrents Festival. The season features a broad range of performances across orchestral, jazz and choral ensembles, alongside new commissions.
A key choral event is the world premiere of Roots at Work, a new work by Indian-American composer Shruthi Rajesekar. The piece will be performed by the Birmingham University Singers under the direction of Bob Chilcott. The commission forms part of the festival’s focus on contemporary music within a student-led performance context.
The University Chorus also appears in the spring programme, conducted by Elliot Mercer in a concert built around Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria, alongside additional choral repertoire with organ.
Alongside the choirs, the Philharmonic Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, Brass Band and Gospel Choir all feature in the season, with concerts and competitions forming part of the wider programme. University Music supports more than 35 ensembles and around 1,500 performance places for students, staff and community members.