2026-2027 Annual Merton Equality Conversation: ‘Equality, Access and Music’

The 2026-2027 Annual Merton Equality Conversation:  ‘Equality, Access and Music’ will take place on Friday, November 13th, 5.30–6.45pm in the T.S. Eliot theatre. The event will feature three fantastic speakers:

Chi-chi Nwanoku (Chineke! Orchestra): Who Gets to Belong? Equality, Access and Classical Music
Drawing on her experience as a classical musician and Founder of Chineke!, the first professional orchestra in Europe to be made up of majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians, Chi-chi will explore who has traditionally been seen and heard in classical music, the barriers to opportunity and representation, and why recovering the extraordinary contributions of overlooked Black composers is so important to our understanding of Europe’s musical heritage.

Benjamin Nicholas (Merton): One equal music
In a city with a history of choirs dating back to the fourteenth century, Benjamin Nicholas discusses what the Merton College Girls’ Choir - now in its tenth year - has added to the choral landscape in Oxford. 

Sally Carr (Pembroke House)

Sally Carr will be talking about her work as Project Lead for Pembroke Academy of Music (PAM), an open-access music education project run by Pembroke House, a centre for social action in Walworth, South-East London. PAM delivers high-quality, subsidised instrumental music lessons for children experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.

The event will be followed by a drinks reception.