From Argentinian tango to Haydn, from Fauré to film favourites, our 2026/27 programme brings a year of musical discovery to singers around the world.
With new collaborations, much-loved choral works and a few unexpected surprises, there is plenty to look forward to - whether you have sung with us for years or are thinking of joining a choir for the very first time.
Our Musical Director, Ben England, introduced the programme in today’s launch livestream, sharing musical previews and explaining how we will learn, sing and record these works together from our homes around the world.
Check out the launch to hear what’s coming up!
Our 2026/27 programme
Our year is already underway
Our 2026/27 programme began on 1 September with Martín Palmeri’s Misatango. The Choir has been learning this exciting fusion of the Latin Mass and Argentinian Tango, and we look forward to premiering our brand new recording next year. We are also delighted to be working with our friends at Concerts Austria on the 2027 Misatango Festival - visit their website here for more information.
A festive mix of familiar favourites
Next comes How Many Carols? by Paul Ayres, a short November course with plenty of Christmas spirit. Familiar carol melodies weave in and out over the bass line from Pachelbel’s Canon, overlapping in clever and often unexpected ways. It is a playful celebration of Christmas music, full of familiar tunes in surprising combinations, which we will learn and record together for the festive season.
Continuing our Haydn journey
From November and into the New Year, we continue our exploration of Joseph Haydn’s six late Masses with his Theresienmesse (or “Maria-Theresa Mass”). Following our performances of the Nelson Mass and Harmoniemesse, this is another opportunity to enjoy Haydn’s combination of warmth, drama and joyful choral writing. With rehearsal tracks recorded by Fieri Consort and organist Richard Gowers, Ben will guide us through every voice part with his usual enthusiasm.
Fauré’s Requiem - something for everyone
In February and March, we will enjoy Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in D Minor, whose moments of tenderness, drama and consolation have made it a firm favourite with generations of singers. Plus we have a special addition for this course: alongside the choral movements, we will learn an SATB arrangement of the beautiful Pie Jesu. Usually reserved for a soprano soloist, this movement will become something the whole Choir can sing and record together.
Wellspring! The Way of Water
In the spring, we are delighted to become the first online choir to learn, sing and record Wellspring! The Way of Water by Alexander L’Estrange and Joanna Forbes L’Estrange. Celebrating water and its connections with wellbeing and renewal, this new work draws on jazz, folk, gospel and more. There are opportunities for body percussion, tuned water glasses and even young singers joining the children’s chorus.
Both composers are already familiar friends of Choir of the Earth, and we look forward to working with them again. Their coaching and rehearsal tracks will give us valuable insight into the music directly from the people who wrote it.
Sing Eric Whitacre with The Gesualdo Six
Our summer programme begins with Eric Whitacre’s atmospheric setting of W. B. Yeats’ The Stolen Child, in another exciting collaboration with The Gesualdo Six. The music brings together a larger choir and a smaller group of voices, telling the story of a child being drawn into the mysterious world of the faeries. Choir of the Earth will learn the main choral parts, while The Gesualdo Six will sing the faerie chorus.
With its rich harmonies and layered textures, this is a rewarding challenge for singers looking to try something new, supported throughout by our detailed teaching and rehearsal resources.
Two John Rutter gems
Our short John Rutter Gems course brings together Look at the World and The Lord Bless You and Keep You: two much-loved pieces offering expressions of gratitude, care and hope, for one another and for our planet. With their memorable melodies and expressive choral writing, both pieces offer plenty to enjoy, whether you know them well or are discovering them for the first time.
From Middle-earth to The Muppets
We finish our summer with Songs from the Screen and two very different musical experiences. May It Be, written and performed by Enya for The Lord of the Rings, brings a gentle message of hope through a beautiful choral arrangement. Then we change direction entirely with Piero Umiliani’s Mah-Na-Mah-Na, familiar to many through The Muppets. Expect nonsense syllables, musical mischief and plenty of fun - including a short video project for singers to take part in!
A glimpse beyond the summer
We also shared a sneak peek at the first course of our 2027/28 programme: John Pickard’s Ozymandias, which we will be exploring from September 2027. This setting of Shelley’s poem reflects on pride, power and the mistaken belief that either can last forever. It is a short but striking work with a message that continues to resonate today, and we look forward to exploring it together.
A choir you can be part of
Choir of the Earth is open to everyone. You don’t need previous singing experience, and there are no auditions or voice tests. Simply sign up as a member and you are already in!
We bring choir to you, with online teaching that you can enjoy live or catch up with at a time that suits you. Choir of the Earth teaches the music note by note in rehearsals specifically tailored for each voice part, and your learning is supported by ‘voice part louder’ rehearsal tracks that let you hear your own part clearly. You can pause, repeat and revisit sessions as often as you need, and as all of our rehearsals are recorded, you can fit taking part around your health, work, caring responsibilities or time zone.
For experienced singers, our programme offers fresh challenges, unfamiliar repertoire and opportunities to explore well-known works in greater depth, plus the chance to learn directly from performers, specialists and composers of these fascinating works. Maybe you would like to try another voice part, discover a different musical style, or tackle music you have never had the opportunity to sing before?
You can also choose whether to record. Enjoy the teaching and sing along for the pleasure of learning it, or submit recordings from home for our engineers to combine into an impressive performance featuring voices from around the world.
Whatever your singing experience, vocal skills, confidence, or even how much spare time you have, Choir of the Earth is flexible enough to work for you. Find out more about how it all works here.
Even more to look forward to!
Alongside our online courses, the year ahead will include more Around Sound lectures, more of our fantastic one-day come and sing events, and our annual international gathering in 2027. We will share further details about all of these very soon.
For now, we invite you to watch our programme launch, explore our courses in more detail, and join us for the music ahead! Whether you are taking your first steps into singing or bringing a lifetime of choral experience, there is a place for you in Choir of the Earth and we can’t wait to sing with you!