Migrant Chorus

NAVEEN ARLES (Community Music Director) studied piano under Richard Beauchamp and Murray McLachlan at St Mary’s Music School and though a pianist, piano teacher, MD, choirmaster and performer, he has also found time to take degrees in Biological Sciences and Event and Arts Management. Naveen, although only in his early 30’s, has founded and run choirs at London Metropolitan University and is currently running the London Youth Gospel Choir, an 80 strong choir with 3 branches across London.  He also runs and The Holborn Community Singers with over 55’s, is associate MD of ‘NEFES’ a Turkish choir and facilitates choirs in various corporate firms.  This portfolio of groups are arguably the most diverse and ‘inclusive’ in terms of social and ethnic profile in the UK.  This work brought him to the attention of VoiceLab at the Southbank Centre who sponsored him through the Choral Music Experience’s Professional Development Course for Choral Leaders.  His choirs have performed at The Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, The Royal Albert Hall and on BBC Radio 5live (from a pod of the London Eye). He is currently MD to ‘A Progress’ at The Yard (Beggarsbelief Theatre: 4 stars, Time Out and Critics Choice).  Various credits include MD on The Magdalene Mysteries (4 stars Fringe Review & Time Out), Co-MD’d Lakme in Edinburgh (5 stars, The Scotsman) and was Assist MD on Oh, What A Lovely War 2000 (Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh Fringe Festival).”