Trans Voices, the UK’s only professional choir for trans people, was founded by artists Anil Sebastian and Coda Galabov. A small choir of singers from a range of musical backgrounds will be performing semi-structured and experimental works in response to artworks in the space by Jesse Darling. The performance will feature spoken word arising from the lived experience of trans and non-binary performers within the choir.
The vocal collective launched in 2022 with ‘Reclaim’ - a Guardian Films documentary with Arts Council support, which is centred around trans joy in the context of the choir’s formation and debut project at Union Chapel, London. The film saw its premiere screening at a sold out Rio Cinema, London show featuring author Shon Faye.
This summer, the collective performed at the Roundhouse as part of the venue’s Beyond+Between summer programme running alongside Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show.
“As the first professional trans+ choir in the UK, we are here to reclaim the spaces transgender voices are seldom heard in. We are telling our own stories, in our own ways - and it’s liberating. After all, there are as many ways to be a singer as there are people who sing.” Anil Sebastian, Co-founder
“We’re developing new ways of singing outside the traditional gender binary, while celebrating the unique qualities of trans voices along the way.” Coda Galabov, Co-founder