The second instalment in the Many Voices series, released in partnership with Music Masters and Composers Edition, features a new collection of ten flexible ensemble works from a diverse roster of leading composers: Abel Selaocoe, Aileen Sweeney, Blasio Kavuma, James MacMillan, Jasmin Kent Rodgman, Roderick Williams, Rūta Vitkauskaitė, Sonia Allori, Tom Coult and Tom Poster.

Performed by the acclaimed Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, these works for musicians Grades 2-6 aim to respond to the relative lack of high-quality, flexible contemporary ensemble repertoire available, particularly for young learners.

The scores for each piece are available to buy individually or together from the Composers Edition website here: composersedition.com/manyvoices

These new works were created in collaboration with young people aged 8-10 learning music through Music Masters’ award-winning Schools Programme. Composers were encouraged and supported to embed the voices of these young collaborators into their pieces in this unique co-creation approach. The finished works celebrate the joy and community of making music together, particularly in response to the sense of isolation felt by many during the global pandemic, whilst shining a spotlight on children and young people’s creative potential, and the ability of educators and artists to nurture this.

The first edition of Many Voices, released in 2018, saw NMC join forces with Music Masters to commission ten of the UK’s most exciting composers to create ambitious works for young instrumentalists learning violin at a Grade 2-5 standard. Made available via NMC as a sheet music book and CD and on all streaming platforms, the collection of works which was recorded by violinist Hyeyoon Park and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor has received performances not only from young musicians in the Music Masters Schools Programme but also learner and professional musicians across the UK.