Bradford's first South Asian Women's choir, Song-Geet, which began at the University of Bradford’s Theatre in the Mill, was the vibrant centrepiece of the Coronation Concert over the weekend.
They performed a beautifully harmonious rendition of ‘Brighter Days’ by Emeli Sandé at Windsor Castle alongside a diverse range from across the UK on the spectacular circular stage.
Choir leader Madiha Ansari, who graduated from the university with a degree in clinical sciences in 2009 and who now works as a theatre producer, said: “It’s such a privilege to be performing at the Coronation. We’re proud to be representing not just our community but the region.
“This is a great opportunity for women, and it’s particularly poignant in the run up to Bradford City of Culture 2025.”
Besides Ansari, the choir is made up of Parveen Kaur, Sarena Ayub, Sobia Bashir, Kirran Shah and Rahela Rashid.
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Looking ahead, the group will also attend the Women’s Weekender, the first ever arts and cultures festival focused on highlighting women of colour in art and cultural projects, later this month.
Women’s Weekender will begin at Theatre in the Mill, located on the University of Bradford campus, on May 18.
The festival aims to highlight local artistic and cultural projects with international women of colour artists collaborating on them. Some international artists will be visiting Bradford as part of the festival.
Other acts will include interactive art installations Bussing Out and Theatre in the Mill’s Women’s Comedy Workshop, among others.
Shabina Aslam, a producer at Theatre in the Mill, said: “We want to get more collaboration with women of colour, to increase engagement. We are also trying to do more to get women of colour into positions of leadership.”
*Info: Women’s Weekender