Chineke! Orchestra

Founded in 2015 by Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE, the Chineke! Orchestra is Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra.

Guided by the motto ‘championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music’ Chineke! performs standard orchestral repertoire along with the works of Black and ethnically diverse composers both past and present.

The orchestra made their debut right here at the Southbank Centre, with a September 2015 concert in our Queen Elizabeth Hall. They were appointed as one of our Associate Orchestras from the beginning, and in 2022 became one of our Resident Orchestras.

Chineke! Orchestra works closely with its sister ensemble, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, a youth orchestra of Black and ethnically diverse players aged between 11 and 22, with senior players acting as mentors, teachers and role models to the young musicians. The youth orchestra gives junior players experience, encouragement and confidence during their formative years, with the hope of increasing the number of Black and ethnically diverse candidates currently studying music at third level.