London Oriana Choir

What London Oriana Choir does

London Oriana Choir is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee (Charity No. 1038120), founded in London in 1973 by Leon Lovett. It operates as one of Britain's leading non-professional choral ensembles with approximately 120 current singing members and roughly 1,000 alumni across its 50-year history. The choir's core offering is live choral performance across a deliberately broad repertoire spanning Renaissance to contemporary works, performed a cappella or accompanied, in English and other languages, and from classical and sacred to folk, jazz, and rock. It maintains a six-concert London season per year, conducts annual UK and overseas tours, and operates a commercial hire service for corporate events, weddings, recordings, and high-profile performances.

The organisation runs several distinct programmes that together constitute its revenue and impact base. These include the five15 initiative (launched 2016, concluded 2022) which commissioned 15 new choral works from five women composers and produced the 'Her Voice' album in July 2024; the Young Singers Choral Scholarship Programme for singers aged 18-25 launched in 2021; and a catalogue of recorded releases (Her Voice, The Lady Oriana, Classic Quadrophenia on Deutsche Grammophon, Nativitie, plus Christmas singles released December 2025) distributed via Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. The technical foundation is human musical performance rather than software or AI: in-house staff include Musical Director Dominic Ellis-Peckham (since 2013), Associate Conductor Nicholas Chalmers, vocal coaches, and an accompanist, working with a 120-voice volunteer membership rehearsing weekly.

Revenue is generated through five streams: self-promoted concert ticket sales at London venues (St James's Piccadilly, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St John's Smith Square), commercial event hire fees, annual membership subscriptions (including concessioned rates for students and those on income support), donations and Gift Aid-eligible giving plus legacy bequests, and physical/digital recording sales. The go-to-market is hybrid: event-driven bookings from promoters (BBC, Raymond Gubbay, Live Nation, Disneyland Paris, Disney Concerts) combined with direct-to-consumer outreach through streaming platforms, email, social channels, and venue-based promotion. The choir's customer base spans concert audiences, corporate event clients, high-profile collaborators (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Pete Townshend, Robert Plant, BAFTA, Vatican City, Disney), donor/alumni supporters, and commissioned women composers. No revenue is publicly disclosed.

Name

London Oriana Choir

Legal name

London Oriana Choir Ltd

Website

https://londonoriana.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

London Oriana Choir is a UK-registered charity and 120-voice non-professional choral ensemble founded in 1973 that delivers live concert performances, commercial event hire, recordings, and a women-composers commissioning programme across London, the UK and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: Revenue from self-promoted concerts at venues including St James's Piccadilly, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and other London venues
2. Commercial Bookings: Hire-us service providing choral performances for corporate events, charity functions, weddings, and high-profile occasions such as Eurovision and recording sessions
3. Membership Contributions: Reduced membership rates available for students and those on income support. Members contribute financially while receiving choral training and performance opportunities
4. Donations and Charitable Giving: General donations to support concerts, commissions, recordings, and activities. The charity can claim Gift Aid on UK taxpayer donations. Legacy bequests also solicited
5. CD and Merchandise Sales: Sale of recorded albums including Her Voice, The Lady Oriana, Classic Quadrophenia, Nativitie, and other recordings

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

London Oriana Choir is a non-professional choral ensemble delivering live concert performances, commercial choral hire services for events and recordings, music education and scholarship programmes, and a commissioning initiative championing women composers (five15). Its repertoire spans baroque to contemporary, sacred to secular, with around 120 members and adaptable group sizes of 15-80 singers for varied engagements.

Product overview

London Oriana Choir is a non-professional choral group offering live performances, recordings, and educational programmes. The core offering consists of concert performances in London, the UK, and abroad, with a repertoire spanning baroque to contemporary music. Key products include the five15 initiative for women composers, the Young Singers Scholarship Programme, and commercial recording services. The choir releases albums and singles, with 'Her Voice' being the flagship album from the five15 initiative. Performance services are available for hire for various events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• five15: A ground-breaking initiative launched in 2016 to champion women composers, involving commissioning 15 new choral works from five women composers over five years, increased programming of women composers' music, workshops, recordings, and other initiatives.

Products and services

• Choir Performance Services (Hire-Us) Professional choral performance service for hire at corporate events, weddings, charity functions, recordings, and high-profile occasions (including Eurovision, O2 Arena appearances, BAFTA). The choir can adapt to ensemble sizes between 15 and 80 singers to suit the venue and client requirements.
• five15 Initiative Ground-breaking initiative championing women composers by commissioning 15 new choral works from five women composers over five years (extended to six due to the pandemic), alongside increased programming, educational projects, recordings, a competition, and a closing festival.
• Her Voice Album Album released in July 2024 celebrating the choir's 50th anniversary, featuring nine a cappella commissions from the five15 initiative promoting women composers including works by Cheryl Frances Hoad, Rebecca Dale, Jessica Curry, Anna Disley-Simpson and Hannah Kendall.
• The Lady Oriana Album Album celebrating the launch of the five15 project, featuring choral masterpieces spanning from John Wilbye's late 16th century madrigal 'The Lady Oriana' to contemporary works by Kerry Andrew.
• Classic Quadrophenia Recording Recording of the world-premiere orchestration of Pete Townshend's rock opera Classic Quadrophenia, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Alfie Boe, Billy Idol, Phil Daniels and Pete Townshend, released on Deutsche Grammophon.
• Christmas singles: Carol of the Bells and Silent Night First Christmas singles released in December 2025, featuring recordings of Carol of the Bells (Leontovich and Wilhousky) and Silent Night (Gruber, arranged by Wolfgang Lindner).
• Young Singers Choral Scholarship Programme Annual scholarship programme offering funded places for singers aged 18-25, providing free membership, singing lessons, musicianship sessions, solo performance coaching, and performance opportunities with the choir.
• Come and Sing Events Participatory choral events where members of the public can join the choir for collaborative singing experiences, including workshops and sing-along sessions.
• Self-Promoted Concert Season Self-produced concert series of approximately six concerts per season at prestigious London venues (including St James's Piccadilly, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St John's Smith Square, Cecil Sharp House, and Royal Albert Hall), plus two weekend tours per year (one UK, one overseas).

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 new choral works commissioned from 5 women composers through five15 initiative
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Philharmonic OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration including world premiere of Pete Townshend's Classic Quadrophenia at Royal Albert Hall with Alfie Boe and Billy Idol, plus recording released on Deutsche Grammophon
• BBC Concert OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecording collaborations including Armstrong Gibbs' Odysseus and various performances
• Opera Holland ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing chorus direction and collaborative performances with orchestra-in-residence status
• TenebraeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional ensemble that originally commissioned Joby Talbot's Path of Miracles; guest singers joined London Oriana for 2026 performance
• The Gesualdo SixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning vocal ensemble that collaborated with London Oriana during 50th anniversary celebrations and workshops
• London Mozart PlayersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative performances including 40th Anniversary Gala Concert with Vivaldi's Gloria
• City of London SinfoniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrchestra-in-residence for Opera Holland Park season; collaborative performances with London Oriana
• Meridian SinfoniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular collaborative performances including Bach Mass in B Minor and other works
• Cecilia McDowallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned composer appointed as Patron of the choir in May 2021; commissioned Here Hum the Bees for 50th anniversary
• Beth Nielsen ChapmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-time Grammy nominee and long-standing collaborator; special appearance at 50th anniversary gala concert
• Disney ConcertsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKingdom Hearts Orchestra world tour concerts performed with London Oriana
• Deutsche GrammophonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor record label that released Classic Quadrophenia recording featuring London Oriana Choir
• Pembroke Academy of MusicminorOthersMusic education project in Walworth South London for young people aged 7-14 experiencing socio-economic disadvantage; designated charity for 2025/26 season retiring collections
• KeychangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational initiative committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in music by 2022; London Oriana has signed the pledge
• NonclassicalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecord label that released Her Voice album featuring five15 a cappella commissions in 2024

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Gesualdo Six: Award-winning British vocal ensemble with similar versatility across early and contemporary repertoire; has already collaborated with London Oriana for the 50th anniversary, indicating overlapping audience and artistic positioning.
• Crouch End Festival Chorus: Large London-based community choir with comparable repertoire range, film/symphonic crossover work, and a similar non-professional membership model serving both concerts and commercial hire work.
• City of London Choir: Amateur London choir with a similar subscription/membership model, concert-season cadence in central London venues, and a comparable mix of classical and contemporary programming.
• The Sixteen: One of the UK's leading vocal ensembles, also blending period, contemporary and commissioned repertoire with a similar hire/concert/recording model; closest direct competitor in the London concert and recording market.
• Bach Choir: One of London's oldest amateur choral societies with a similar concert-season model in major venues and comparable repertoire from Baroque to contemporary; competes for the same London choral audiences and donor pool.
• Holst Singers: London chamber choir with comparable repertoire versatility (Renaissance to contemporary) and recording activity; competes in the same London choral ensemble niche for concerts, commissions, and collaborators.
• London Symphony Chorus: London-based choral group tied to a major symphony orchestra, performing at the Barbican and on international tours; competes with London Oriana for both concert audiences and orchestral collaboration opportunities.
• Tenebrae: UK professional choir renowned for passionate programming of contemporary and classical works; directly comparable in repertoire ambition, recording activity, and London concert presence.
• Royal Choral Society: Long-established London choral society with comparable large-scale symphonic choral programming and a similar membership-contribution revenue model, including high-profile annual performances (notably at the Royal Albert Hall).

Broad incumbents

• BBC Singers: BBC's professional chamber choir, the UK's only full-time professional chamber choir; broader institutional backing but overlapping repertoire, commissioning activity, and London concert programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/londonoriana
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNSoQsplTTGC1uOFu1F6Xvg
• Facebookfacebook.com/londonoriana

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about London Oriana Choir