Ark’s Gala concert is the culmination of months of hard work from pupils, schoolteachers, and Ark’s freelance music stuff, who pull together a large-scale concert at the Barbican. Featuring a Rap Collective, Beat Squad, and massed Primary and Secondary School choirs, the diversity of music-making on offer at Ark schools is clear, whilst the support and opportunity for young people to get involved in that music-making is strong.

Tristan is conducting the choir for the massed ensemble piece ‘Waloyo Yamoni’ by Christopher Tin, a show-stopping piece to end the concert. He is delighted to be partnering with his close friend Enyi Okpara for this piece in particular.