GSA Choir 15th Anniversary Commission

Aim: Composer, Jay Capperauld, and poet, Niall Campbell, will collaborate to create an ambitious new work for choir and string orchestra.

Help us raise £15,000 to celebrate our 15th anniversary in 2027.

Since the GSA Choir was founded in 2012, the ensemble has established a reputation as a champion of contemporary music – performing the work of living composers and commissioning 15 new works.

It is only fitting that we celebrate our 15th anniversary in 2027 with a concert performing our biggest commission to date, but we need your help to make that happen.

A major new work created by leading artists

We are excited to celebrate this milestone by commissioning leading composer, Jay Capperauld, and award-winning poet, Niall Campbell – two of Scotland's most notable young artists – to write a major new piece for choir and string orchestra.

We have already raised more than 65% of the funds required for the artistic fees through concert income and our existing reserves. In order to ensure that Jay and Niall are paid fair rates in line with current industry guidance (something we feel passionately about), we need to raise additional funds.

We are looking to raise £15,000: the majority of which is for the project itself, the rest of which will cover the small amount required for Crowdfunder's payment processing fees.

At 30 minutes long, this substantial new work will be in four movements, one for each of the four seasons; Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. In the current age of climate crises – with the effects wrought upon the perpetual cycle of the year by humans becoming increasingly apparent – it will be a timely meditation on a vital subject.

The work is ambitious: composed for one of Scotland’s largest ensembles, of around 140 singers, the choir will perform it accompanied by a full string orchestra.  

Jay's music

The GSA Choir has worked with Jay previously, commissioning him, in 2017, to write The Unspoken, based upon Edwin Morgan's love poem of the same name. This piece was hugely popular with choir members and audiences alike, and is the reason we have decided to entrust our anniversary commission to Jay. You can listen to a short extract from the world premiere performance of The Unspoken below.

We will be performing The Unspoken again in May this year at our summer concert but, if you would like to hear more of Jay's music now, you can listen here.

Niall's poetry

Jay and Niall have worked together on several occasions, and have a successful artistic collaboration stretching back a number of years. You can listen below to Niall reading one of his poems, The Night Watch, which Jay set to music in 2022 for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus.

Risks and challenges

The risk is simple: if we don't raise enough money to pay for the commission, it can't happen. By now the choir is experienced at commissioning new works and giving them the world premieres they deserve.

We have agreed terms with Jay and Niall and both are ready to start working on the piece. This will be the largest commission the choir has ever undertaken, so we want to make sure we do it justice. To ensure the work is ready for the concert in May 2027, the choir will begin rehearsing the piece in May 2026 meaning that Jay and Niall need to start work in May 2025.

Thank you

We know that our singers and our audience are huge supporters of contemporary music – they have proven so during the last 12 years. By supporting this project, you can be part of something spectacular; not simply a new commission but part of a growing music-making community that the choir has fostered amongst its singers, audiences and followers.

From everyone at the GSA Choir, thank you for supporting our latest project. We look forward to sharing our story with you as the project progresses towards the world premiere in 2027. We hope you will join us for what will be an unmissable performance.

For more information about the choir, visit our website here.