The Performers

The Swan Consort is a professional vocal ensemble and independent arts charity based in the UK. Specialising in the historically informed performance of Early Music, The Swan Consort’s repertoire draws together forgotten gems from the European Renaissance, with exciting new works by diverse voices of the present day.

Recent performances include the Young Artist’s Showcase at Brighton Early Music Festival (2021), delivering the world premiere of Alastair Borthwick’s Missa Brevis at London Festival of Contemporary Church Music (2022), and engagements in Spain including the Festival Renaixement in Valéncia (2022).

They have curated digital programmes for The Royal Opera House, Mumbai (2020) and Ryedale Festival (2020-2021). With their engaging and person-centred approach, they present meaningful programmes that reach towards new audiences whilst delighting and surprising seasoned concert goers. They look forward to touring their performance and education project “Song of the Birds” in 2023.

Anita Datta is a young British conductor from the East Riding of Yorkshire. Born in 1992, she is one of the few ethnic minority women in a field that remains among the most gender imbalanced professions to date. She founded the Swan Consort in 2018 to perform the music of the European renaissance, and as a vehicle to explore music that is not so often heard. A former organ scholar at Sidney Sussex College Cambridge, she has worked as a choral leader in schools and churches across England and served as conducting fellow for the National Youth Choir of Wales. She is currently furthering her conducting studies at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (2021-2023). Anita is committed to widening accessibility in the arts focusing on the North of England, and particularly enjoys curating performances for new audiences.

Alastair Borthwick is a composer and musicologist based at Canterbury Christ Church University (UK), where he is a professor and Head of the School of Creative Arts and Industries. He originally trained as a physicist at Imperial College London while studying composition privately with John Lambert at the Royal College of Music. Music soon became the main focus of his activity, and a PhD in music (funded by the British Academy) from King’s College London followed.

His compositions include music for soloists, instrumental ensembles, choirs and orchestras, which have been performed across the UK and Continental Europe, Turkey, China, Hong Kong and the USA. Commissions have been funded by organizations including Arts Council England, Performing Rights Society, and Beijing Modern Music Festival. They have ranged from concert to liturgical and film music. His liturgical music has been performed in the USA and in various churches across the UK. His published musicological work includes writing on music theory and analysis, music and theology, and British music since 1945.

Event Information

Our lunchtime events begin at 1pm and are free entry, but space is limited, so please book in advance to avoid disappointment. Children aged five and over are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult.

All the concerts feature introductory ‘listening guides’ prepared by the performers and will be followed by a brief opportunity to discuss the work afterwards.

When you book you have the option to pay a £3, £5 or £10 donation to the Student Scholarship Fund, which exists to support those students who would like to take advantage of an opportunity to extend and enrich their studies in some way but lack the resources. For example, the Fund would support the study of a second instrument (or voice); a masterclass off-campus; a summer school residency; or the purchase of specialist equipment or software.

Venues are either St Gregory’s Centre for Music or Anselm Studio 1, both on our North Holmes Road campus. Our campus car parks are reserved for staff permit holders only.