Book now: free concert at the Sheldonian will celebrate diversity of Oxford's community

22 April 2022
OO 1871 logo

A musical miscellany in celebration of the diversity of Oxford’s community comes to the Sheldonian Theatre in a concert on Wednesday 4 May.

Oxford today resounds with many different voices. Walking on a Sunday evening, visitors can hear the singing of Anglican choral music as it mingles with other, more recent arrivals: songs in Sanskrit, Arabic, Hebrew, and a myriad of other sacred tongues. The talk on the streets is even more diverse, as scholars and tourists from across the globe debate what matters to them.

This vibrant, varied, international Oxford is a relatively new development. Until 1871, full membership of the University was confined to members of the Church of England. The Universities Tests Act finally removed these religious restrictions at Oxford. By opening up to people of diverse faiths – or no faith at all – the 1871 Act made it possible for Oxford to become the truly global and diverse place it is today.

The free concert next Wednesday at 7.30pm is the keynote event in our year-long commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Act. Featuring performers from a variety of faith traditions, it will bring our communities together in song.

The concert will include performances from:

  • Gurmat Sangeet Academy
  • The Choir of New College
  • Klezjammers
  • Robert Quinney
  • OxfordShir
  • Younis Ghulam Nabi

The concert has been organised by Professors Paulina Kewes, William Whyte and Susan Doran of the History Faculty, and John Dunston, Director of Music at Harris Manchester College. Its partner organisations are the African & African Caribbean Kultural Heritage Initiative, Everyday Muslim, and Oxford Jewish Heritage.

Professor Kewes said: “From Catholic choral compositions and Jewish liturgical songs to music of south-east Asia and commemoration of George Floyd, this concert brings together musical traditions, religions, communities, and peoples to celebrate the diversity of Oxford's community.”

The concert is part of Opening Oxford 1871, a research project at the University of Oxford. The project marks the 150th anniversary of the Act, while recognising that the “opening up” was an incomplete process – not least because women remained excluded. A core aim of the project is to consider the ways in which Oxford can open up still further, while celebrating its diversity, and this concert is a shining example of that. 

You can read more about the project here: https://openingoxford1871.web.ox.ac.uk/home

Booking in advance for the concert is required, and you can do that here: https://torch.ox.ac.uk/opening-oxford