Corvus Consort will give a performance this autumn with the Odyssey Ensemble, the UK’s first professional orchestra dedicated to amplifying the voices of refugees and asylum-seekers.

The Odyssey Ensemble have invited Corvus to collaborated with them on their programme ‘The Lost Birds’, which uses the flight of birds as a metaphor for refugee migration. Performed in collaboration with refugee poets and violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, the programme features choral, orchestral and collaborative works that invite contemplation on human stories of exile, survival, loss and hope.

Known for their innovative programming and musical excellence, Corvus place particular emphasis on their collaborations with instrumental ensembles, in addition to their work as an a cappella ensemble. Ongoing projects include upper voices and harp with Louise Thomson, voices and saxophones with the Ferio Saxophone Quartet, and contemporary explorations of Renaissance soundworlds with instrumental duo Music on the Edge.

Corvus will join the Odyssey Ensemble to perform Christopher Tin’s elegaic The Lost Birds, a musical meditation on extinction, and together they will give the world premiere of Sarah Jenkins’ Wounded Wings, which has been co-created with refugee poets. As part of the programme, Corvus will perform two works from their a cappella repertoire that give voice to the notion of flight, Mendelssohn’s O for the Wings of a Dove and Caroline Shaw’s and the Swallow. The concert also includes a performance of Vaughan-Williams’ The Lark Ascending with soloist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, and at the time of the event, artwork by refugees will be displayed around the venue.

This event takes place at Smith Square Hall (formerly St. John’s Smith Square) on 25th October at 7:30pm. Tickets and further details about this event may be found by following the link below.

Corvus Consort and Odyssey Ensemble | 25 October 2025 | 7:30pm