“Decca Records has announced a new partnership with Chineke! Orchestra, the first professional majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra in Europe,” writes Ben Homewood in Thursday’s (4/28) Music Week (U.K.). “The ensemble’s music will be released on a new label under Decca, Chineke! Records. Its maiden release is a collection of works by English composer, conductor and political activist Samuel Coleridge-Taylor in September. The album will include the world premiere recording of a work by Coleridge-Taylor’s daughter Avril. Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE is the new executive producer of Chineke! Records. Nwanoku is founder, artistic and executive director of the Chineke! Foundation, which supports Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians in the UK and Europe…. Tom Lewis and Laura Monks, co-presidents of Decca Label Group, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Chi-chi and the fabulous Chineke! Orchestra to the Decca label family. Chi-chi … is a trailblazer with an important mission…. We are committed to spreading the incredible music, talent and message of Chineke! around the world.’ The Chineke! Orchestra … are set to tour with Decca’s Sheku Kanneh-Mason … this summer…. Chineke! will also perform live with Decca’s Max Richter in June.”
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