With more than 70 concerts from over 60 choirs, cabaret from the biggest names on the alternative cabaret circuit, world and European premieres, public workshops, masterclasses, film and expert panels, Various Voices, run
in partnership with Southbank Centre, promises to be a highlight of this year’s arts calendar.

Most events are open to the public, including choir concerts in the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room, outdoor shows, ballroom dancing and appearances by high profile performers including Lea DeLaria, Sandi Toksvig, Amy Lamé and award winning choir Chantage. The BSL interpreting team is being lead by Russell Aldersson.

Some of the major events that will be BSL interpreted include:

· Opening Ceremony hosted by Sandi Toksvig including hundreds of singers performing madrigals to mark May Day outside the Festival Hall and across Hungerford Bridge. (1 May, 12 noon, Southbank Riverfront)
· Voices of Our City: London’s three host choirs, The Pink Singers, Diversity and London Gay Men’s Chorus, welcome delegates to London with a concert of songs about London and by British gay composers. (1 May, 4pm & 7pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall)
· Small and Perfectly Formed, a celebration of small ensemble singing. (1 May, 9pm, Purcell Room)
· European Premiere of ‘Sing for The Cure”, a major work about people affected by breast cancer, with the London Gay Symphony Orchestra and a specially formed choir, in a fundraising concert aiming to raise £15,000 for UK charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. (2 May, 8pm, Royal Festival Hall)
· The Big Gay Sing: Hosted by Timberlina and Lorraine Bowen, this glamorous sing-a-long is your chance to belt out the likes of Bette, Barbra and Bassey with the Various Voices singers. (2 May, 8pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall)
· Chantage: Award winning chamber choir, winners of the Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition in 2006, performing a range of contemporary music. (4 May, 7.30pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall)
· Closing Ceremony: The finale to the whole festival with a range of choirs and performers giving their all one last time. (4 May, 6.30pm Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall)

Many of the visiting UK and international choirs will also be performing with their own sign-language interpreters.

Run by volunteers working in conjunction with Southbank Centre, Various Voices takes place in a European city every four years. This is the 12th festival, and the first in London since 1989. 2000 lesbian and gay singers will be arriving from across the UK, Europe and further afield. 13 choirs are from the UK, 16 from Germany, 7 from Holland and 4 from the USA with others from Switzerland, France, Ireland, Scandinavia, Belgium, Croatia and Canada. For many the festival marks their UK debut.

The choirs will each give a half hour performance over the weekend with many singing in a variety of languages including English as well as their native tongue. Musical styles vary considerably, from traditional folk songs and
classical favourites to pop, disco and musical theatre. Many choirs include costumes and choreography in their performances, making for a hugely varied range of concerts.

Southbank Centre Artistic Director Jude Kelly says Southbank Centre will never have seen anything quite like it: “Southbank Centre has a long tradition of choral activity. Two years ago we launched Voicelab to develop singing and choral work for all ages, so we are delighted to host Various Voices 09. This unique festival brings into focus the major contribution that the LGBT community – in all its diversity – has upon the creative world. It demonstrates the uniting power of the voice. So come and celebrate with us – we look forward to hearing you there.”

Festival Director Martin Brophy says Various Voices will be a unique event for London: “London has never seen a gay and lesbian arts event on this scale and for it to be taking place at Southbank Centre is fantastic, putting it at the heart of the city’s arts and music scene. Many of the choirs taking part have never performed outside their homeland before, giving London audiences an amazing opportunity to enjoy choirs and music that promise to be unlike any they have heard before.”

Various Voices London 2009 is supported by The Mayor of London, Visit London, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and The Foyle Foundation. Sponsors already onboard for the event include Hotelopia and Markson Pianos.