The Sixteen

The Sixteen - choral projects

After thirty years of worldwide performance and recording, The Sixteen, a British group founded and conducted by Harry Christophers, is recognised as one of the world's leading ensembles in its field.  Comprising both choir and period-instrument orchestra, The Sixteen has gained a particular reputation for performances of early English polyphony, Renaissance, Baroque, early Classical and 20th Century music.

The productive partnership between The Sixteen and the Genesis Foundation continues with the release in May 2009 of a CD of three new choral works from three of Britain’s most respected contemporary composers: James MacMillan, Roxanna Panufnik and Will Todd. Each work is a setting of the prayer Stay With Me, Lord, by the Capuchin priest Padre Pio (the familiar name by which millions know St Pius of Pietrelcina). The purpose of the commissions was to refresh approaches to creating contemporary liturgical music and to inspire and delight people of every faith and conviction.

A holy trinity of composers - James MacMillan, Roxanna Panufnik and Will Todd - has been commissioned by the Genesis Foundation to set music to a prayer by one of the most popular saints of the 20th century. The new works will be premiered at Westminster Cathedral in a free concert on 3rd June 2008 by the choir of The Sixteen conducted by Harry Christophers.