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This project successfully funded on 13th October 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Hidden Star - The Story of Annie Walker
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
£75
raised so far
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Aim
Help us bring together music, science, history, and education to breathe life into long-forgotten 19th century astronomer, Annie Walker.
Hidden Star is a unique project which bringing to life long-forgotten 19th century astronomer, Annie Walker, in words and music, combining opera, science and history. Alongside the opera, we are developing workshops for children and young people, combining contemporary opera, astronomy and history to inspire new generations of scientists and artists. A work-in-progress performance of Hidden Star will take place on 05 October 2025 at the Tête à Tête Opera Festival in London in October 2025. We aim to Annie home to Cambridge with performances and workshops in 2026.
We're working in partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute of Astronomy and Tête à Tête Opera Festival and are supported by the Royal Opera and Ballet Engender Network and Mentoring Programme.
Your contribution will help fund the creation of the poetry and music, the costs of performing at Tête à Tête Opera Festival and the development of the workshops and activities for children and young people.
Who was Annie Walker?
In 1903 astronomer Annie Walker left the Cambridge Observatory where she had lived and worked for over 20 years. Under the mentorship of John Couch Adams, she had become the first professionally employed female observational astronomer in Britain. However, the death of her mentor and the appointment of a new Director at the Observatory, spelled disaster for Annie. She left the Observatory and never worked professionally in astronomy again and faded from history. Our project has reignited interest in this remarkable woman and has led to the naming of an asteroid for her in May 2025.
Hidden Star
Hidden Star Hidden Star is a lyrical and intimate character study of a long-forgotten woman who broke through the boundaries of her day, only to see all that was important, taken from her. . The work crosses the borders of the arts, sciences and social history, using contemporary words and music to create a real woman, intelligent, loyal and passionate about her work, while exploring the psychological impact of the destruction of her career. It touches on still topical issues facing women in science and opens up the work of the unseen scientists, without whose work our knowledge of the universe would be poorer.
Younger children will have the opportunity to take part in a chorus of Annie's stars.
Who are we
Hidden Star is a project by Listen! a new collective of women whose mission is to create, produce and perform new musical works that connect people to the stories and places that shape our lives. Working on this project are:
- Caroline Coetzee: librettist and director
- Rania Chrysostomou: composer and musical director
- Marion Dall Caldwell: pianist and educationist
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made