Follow us on a journey through nine concerts taking in a range of musical genres, from the traditional to the unexpected. Over the course of the series, you will hear three groups of instruments - piano, voice and trumpet - presented and combined in different ways.

At the heart of this series are our well-known archives and each week we ask our performers to respond to a theme suggested by the collections in our Library and curate their programme around it.

Programme

York Bowen - Nocturne, op.78

Franz Liszt - No.10 (Appassionata)

Sergei Rachmaninoff - Études Tableux, op. 33 no. 8

Frédéric Chopin - Fantaisie in F Minor, op.49

Inspiration

This week’s performance takes inspiration from the community activism of the Southall Youth Movement (SYM). SYM was established in direct response to the unprovoked racially-motivated murder of Sikh teenager Gurdip Singh Chaggar by a gang of youths on Southall’s High Street in June 1976. At first the movement was mainly concerned to campaign for justice for Chaggar and his family.

Before long, the mainly Asian members of the SYM were joining with other anti-fascist groups to organise demonstrations against the far right National Front. Recognising the lack of provision for Asian youth in Southall, SYM also set up a community centre to mentor young people and teach them skills such as photography and sound recording. The roots reggae band Misty in Roots was formed at the centre.

In 2016, the arts and educational charity Digital Works [insert hyperlink: https://digital-works.co.uk/] carried out a series of oral history interviews with those involved in the Southall Youth Movement. To find out more about the group’s activism, why not visit our researchers’ area to listen to these powerful interviews?

What to expect

This is a free event, so please make sure to cancel your ticket if you’re not going to make it so that others can join.

Support our free concerts

Our lunchtime concerts have been a tradition since 1948, providing inspiration and respite from the world outside for an hour a week in a relaxed performance environment. You can support these concerts and help us keeping them free to audiences by donating here.

Practical information

• Online ticket sales will close two hours prior to the event starting. We encourage booking in advance, as tickets on the door will be limited.

How we’re keeping you safe

August 2022 update: Keeping you safe and healthy is our number one priority.

If you test positive for Covid-19 or are asked to isolate and are not able to attend your class or pre-booked event, please contact the Bishopsgate Box Office for further information (enquiries@bishopsgate.org.uk). Please do not come to the Institute in person if you have symptoms or have tested positive.

Bishopsgate Institute has a thorough cleaning schedule in place and we clean the most populated areas more often. You will find hand-sanitising stations throughout the building as well as touch-free drinking fountains.

Find out more about how we’re keeping you safe.