Commissions
John Studzinski and the Genesis Foundation are the most prolific commissioners of sacred choral music today.
The Genesis Foundation works with the UK’s leading arts organisations and, under their inspired artistic directors, nurtures and develops the next generation of artistic talent. In this capacity, the foundation works closely with composers, musicians, choral singers, opera and theatre directors, playwrights, actors and visual artists. On this page you will find information on artists who have personally been commissioned by the Genesis Foundation.
Sir James MacMillan CBE
Since 2008, James MacMillan has been at the heart of the Genesis Foundation’s work to ensure that new music of faith is constantly created and renewed. His Stabat Mater, commissioned by the Genesis Foundation, became the first ever piece to be live-streamed from the Sistine Chapel. Read more about this partnership
Angus McPhee
Angus McPhee’s Panem Nostrum… Ave Maria was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation for a concert at the Royal Academy of Arts which was inspired by its Bill Viola/Michelangelo: Life, Death, Rebirth exhibition, sponsored by the Genesis Foundation. Read more about this partnership
Phillip Cooke
Phillip Cooke was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation to write Ave Maria, mater Dei, as part of The Eton Choirbook and its Legacy of Sacred Music, which featured four new commissions based on the iconic music manuscript, the Eton Choirbook, by Cooke, Sir James MacMillan, Marco Galvani and Joseph Phibbs. Read more about this partnership
Marco Galvani
Marco Galvani was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation to write Stella Caeli, as part of The Eton Choirbook and its Legacy of Sacred Music, which featured four new commissions based on the iconic music manuscript, the Eton Choirbook, by Galvani, Sir James MacMillan, Phillip Cooke and Joseph Phibbs. Read more about this partnership
Joseph Phibbs
Joseph Phibbs was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation to write Nesciens mater, as part of The Eton Choirbook and its Legacy of Sacred Music, which featured four new commissions based on the iconic music manuscript, the Eton Choirbook, by Phibbs, Sir James MacMillan, Phillip Cooke and Marco Galvani. Read more about this partnership
Stephen Hough
Stephen Hough’s Hallowed was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation to celebrate the British Museum’s exhibition: Living with gods: Peoples, places and worlds beyond, sponsored by the Genesis Foundation. Read more about this partnership
Naomi Alderman
Naomi Alderman, award-winning literary author and luminary in the world of games, was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation to create a ground-breaking art game. The game can be played for free via the web on either Mac or PC. Read more about this partnership
Alissa Firsova
The Genesis Foundation commissioned composer Alissa Firsova to write a new Stabat Mater as part of the Stabat Mater 2014: Spirit, Strength & Sorrow project, alongside Tõnu Kõrvits and Matthew Martin. This work was performed and recorded by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen. Read more about this partnership
Tõnu Kõrvits
Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation to write a new Stabat Mater as part of the Stabat Mater 2014: Spirit, Strength & Sorrow project, alongside Alissa Firsova and Matthew Martin. This work was performed and recorded by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen. Read more about this partnership
Matthew Martin
Matthew Martin, one of the UK’s leading choral composers, was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation to write a new Stabat Mater as part of the Stabat Mater 2014: Spirit, Strength & Sorrow project, alongside Tõnu Kõrvits and Alissa Firsova. This work was performed and recorded by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen. Read more about this partnership
Greta Alfaro
A previous Genesis Scholar at the Royal College of Art, Spanish photographer Greta Alfaro was commissioned by the foundation to produce new work for her first solo exhibition. The resulting show, A Very Tricky and Crafty Contrivance, took over a disused warehouse in London’s King’s Cross in 2012. Read more about this partnership
Ruth Byrchmore
The Genesis Foundation commissioned Byrchmore to compose two pieces for its Spanish Mystics project, O Guiding Night. These works, The Dark Night and Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila were performed and recorded by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen. Read more about this partnership
Chris Levine
Summer 2010 brought Light a work commissioned from Chris Levine by the Genesis Foundation – a light-based cross installed in the former Holy Trinity Church on Marylebone Road in London. Read more about this partnership
Tarik O’Regan
Best known for his choral compositions, O’Regan was one of the composers commissioned to compose two works for the Spanish Mystics concert and album: fleeting, God and Beloved, all things ceased. Read more about this partnership
Roxanna Panufnik
The Genesis Foundation’s first commission was Roxanna Panufnik’s Westminster Mass, which continues to be an international success. Since then Roxanna has also been commissioned by the foundation to produce a choral work as part of its Stay With Me Lord concert and recording project. Read more about this partnership
Will Todd
Leading composer Will Todd has received several commissions from the Genesis Foundation including the critically-acclaimed Among Angels (2006) and Stay with me, Lord (2008). Read more about this partnership
Roderick Williams
Equally celebrated as a baritone and a composer, Williams was commissioned to compose two works for the Spanish Mystics project: O Guiding Night and Let nothing trouble you. Read more about this partnership
Isidora Žebeljan
Composer Isidora Žebeljan was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation as part of the first Genesis Opera Project workshops in 2002 where she composed an early version of of her opera, Zora D. The foundation subsequently commissioned Isidora to create a tribute to Bill Viola at his new exhibition, The Passions, in London in 2003/04. Read more about this partnership