Chineke! Orchestra

The Chineke! Orchestra is Europe’s first professional orchestra made up predominantly of Black and ethnically diverse musicians, presenting an equally diverse concert programme. The name ‘Chineke’ comes from the Igbo language and means ‘God, the creator of all good things’ – an expression for something remarkable. The orchestra was founded ten years ago by British double bassist Chi-Chi Nwanoku, keynote speaker and supporter of the Vienna Festival’s Academy Second Modernism. From its inception, its mission has been to create career opportunities for underrepresented musicians in classical music and to promote diversity both on concert stages and in audiences. The orchestra is also deeply committed to works by composers who have been overlooked or neglected throughout music history, and regularly performs, commissions, and records music by living Black composers.

The Chineke! Orchestra tours regularly across Europe and North America and is the resident orchestra at London’s Southbank Centre. Today, Chineke! encompasses not only the professional orchestra but also a youth orchestra for musicians aged 11 to 22 (including a mentoring programme) and, since 2022, an a cappella ensemble.

The Chineke! Orchestra will perform in Vienna for the first time as part of the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) I Free Republic of Vienna 2026.