The Fourth Choir Marks 10 Years with Debut Album Songs of Ourselves
The Fourth Choir is celebrating a decade of raising queer voices in choral music with the release of their debut album, Songs of Ourselves. It’s a milestone that feels bigger than just an anniversary. This is a statement of who they are as an ensemble, and what queer artistry can sound like when it’s given the space to shine.
The album brings together an astonishing range of works, stretching from Renaissance gems by Raffaella Aleotti, Caterina Assandra, and Vicente Lusitano, to brand-new commissions by contemporary queer composers like Stuart Beatch and Cooper Baldwin. What unites them all is a spirit of liberation and individuality. One moment we’re swept up in the ecstatic sensuality of Emily Dickinson’s Wild Nights, the next we’re grounded by Mahvash Sabet’s The Imaginary Garden—words smuggled from prison that still speak of resistance and hope.
True to the Choir’s mission, Songs of Ourselves doesn’t just showcase beauty; it uplifts voices too often left out of the classical canon. From queer poets like Walt Whitman to Black Renaissance composers and imprisoned writers, this collection insists that our stories, struggles, and loves belong in the halls of art and history. The Choir has long championed underrepresented composers, and this album brings many of those voices into the spotlight for the first time, preserving their work and sharing it with a global audience.
Beyond the music itself, the album reflects the Choir’s commitment to community and inclusion. Founded in 2013, The Fourth Choir quickly established a reputation for excellence and daring programming, performing in iconic venues like the Barbican, the Royal Albert Hall, and even the Tower of London. They’ve combined theatrical flair with technical precision, bringing choral music into spaces that are both historic and unexpected, from Shakespeare’s Globe to sold-out shows at Wilton’s Music Hall. Songs of Ourselves continues that spirit, blending the intimacy of a cappella performance with a bold statement of queer identity.
The commissioned pieces on the album highlight contemporary concerns as well as personal expression. Cooper Baldwin’s Libera Me (as embers singe the tide) confronts the climate crisis with urgency and emotion, while Stuart Beatch’s Song of Myself offers a celebration of selfhood and empowerment that resonates profoundly within the LGBTQ+ community. The album also features pieces by Kerry Andrew, Jessica Curry, and Shruthi Rajasekar, whose innovative approaches bring fresh energy and perspective to the choral tradition.
As we listen, we hear more than exquisite harmonies. We hear a community refusing to be silenced, using song as protest, as a love letter, and as a promise. With Songs of Ourselves, The Fourth Choir honors the past while singing fiercely to the present, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate ten years of queer choral brilliance.
Songs of Ourselves is out on all music streaming platforms. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Image Courtesy of The Fourth Choir. Photo by Kathleen Holman.
