We hope you managed to enjoy a break during the school time off and are feeling refreshed and ready for the new season ahead.
We've been busy behind the scenes, making exciting plans for the future. As we step into September, we're gearing up to keep planning for innovative performances, workshops, and collaborations that celebrate the diverse musical traditions we hold dear.
Read MoreThe Grand Union Orchestra has always stood firmly against intolerance towards marginalised communities and continues to advocate passionately for interculturalism. Composer Tony Haynes states, "Grand Union is proud to have produced music, songs, and shows in many languages, respecting diverse cultures and telling authentic stories of migration, both of ordinary and exceptional people"
Read MoreThe Grand Union Orchestra's 40th Anniversary Celebrations have been captured in a mesmerising feature film, produced by rising young Nigerian film maker Daniel Oluwasayo Olabode (Akanda Productions). Now available online.
Dive into a unique world of highly original compositions on themes that resonate with our times: heart-rending songs, fiery jazz soloists, Indian ragas, African rhythms, and ravishing sounds from China.
Read MoreOn October 29th 1923, following the First World War and from the fragmented ruins of the Ottoman Empire, Kemal Ataturk established Turkey as a secular republic. In the 100 years since, Turkish politics have veered wildly right and left, but never formally again embracing Islam. Thanks largely to the sizable Turkish community in North London, Grand Union has always had close connections with the Turkish diaspora. We’d like to pay tribute to them at this time, fervently hoping that Ataturk’s legacy will not be betrayed.
Read MoreWe are delighted to announce our programme for October and November. It features an exhilarating range of performances and workshops, centred on – appropriately for Black History Month – the culture and traditions of the African diaspora, with a fascinating glimpse of Bangladesh in London today.
Read MoreOn Tuesday September 11th 1973, the democratically-elected socialist government of Chile was overthrown in army-led coup. The popular President, Salvador Allende, was murdered, and General Augusto Pinochet installed as Dictator. Allende’s supporters were rounded up; thousands simply ‘disappeared’ while others were thrown into prison. Some were eventually released in an Amnesty, and in this Blog Post commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Coup, Tony Haynes pays tribute to one of them – Vladimir Vega, who became a founding member of the Grand Union Orchestra.
Read MoreThe Grand Union Orchestra AllStars made their début at Woolwich Works on Friday September 1st at 8.00pm, by special invitation from Rhythm Passport, to close its explosive season of gigs featuring the whole range of music and musicians flourishing in London today.
Read MoreWith the release of Christopher Nolan’s new film, our memories reached back nearly 40 years to the early days of the Grand Union Orchestra and its second large-scale show (1986) A Book of Numbers. This toured the UK during the rise of public concern about the threat of nuclear war, which Tony Haynes recalls in his latest blog post …
Read MoreRecipients of the 2023 All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards were announced in a ceremony at the Pizza Express Holborn, London on July 4th. This Special Award from the All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group celebrates the contribution of Tony Haynes and the Grand Union Orchestra to jazz in the UK for over 40 years.
Read MoreUnforgotten Voyages at the Hackney Empire Theatre in June 2023 brought to a spectacular close the Grand Union Orchestra’s week-long programme of events celebrating the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush from the Caribbean in 1948 and the rich legacy of the African diaspora 500 years on from the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Read MoreWe’ve produced a film based on a live performances of the Grand Union Orchestra’s Fortieth Anniversary Show. The show featured British artists representing every major musical culture worldwide, on stage together for a very special celebratory event.
Read MoreWhat a tremendous year 2022 has been for the The Grand Union Orchestra!
It’s certainly been one to remember; here are some of our favourite events in this incredible year gone by.
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