The Trad Academy Sea Shanty Choir is a non-audition community choir based in London, celebrating traditional maritime work songs as well as contemporary songs of the sea. With a repertoire that ranges from tear-jerking ballads to bawdy bangers, capstan shanties to rowing songs, audience participation is always encouraged. With an inclusive ethos, choir members range in age from 18 to 75 and comprise many different nationalities. In addition to exploring the oral culture of sea shanties, the choir continues the functional and rhythmic tradition of these work songs. This allows them to strongly bond as a group, creating an abundance of energy and captivating synchronicity. The choir hopes to inspire audiences and spread the joy of singing working maritime music through their exhilarating live performances.
Formed in 2014 by sailor and musician Pete Truin, The Trad Academy Sea Shanty Choir have collaborated with Keith Kendrick & Sylvia Needham, Firefly Burning, Jim Radford and The Ballina Whalers. They have performed at the V&A museum, Museum of London Docklands, Southbank Centre, High-Tide festival and Les Festival du Chant de Marin in Paimpol, Brittany. In 2015 they released their debut album Maiden Voyage (a charity record for the East Coast Sail Trust) with sold out shows at the Round Chapel and Wilton's Music Hall. 2016 looks to be another busy year with the choir bound for Scandinavia on their second international festival appearance, performing at the Baltic Shanty Festival in the Aland Islands. In addition to this, July 2016 will see them return to Wilton's Music Hall for two nights, working with acclaimed writer, director and actor, James Burke-Dunsmore on a retelling of the The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
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