While largely devoting its regular funding to training programmes that equip emerging artists for life as a creative professional, the Genesis Foundation is also the UK's largest commissioner of sacred music, having commissioned 30 new choral works to date.
In 2020, the foundation launched its £1m Genesis Kickstart Fund,[3] designed to enable outstanding freelance artists to stay on their career paths and explore new possibilities in a world radically altered by COVID-19.
The Genesis Foundation commissions new choral pieces from leading and emerging composers, which are premiered by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen and recorded for their label CORO.
[9] James MacMillan's Stabat mater,[10] a 60-minute work for choir and string orchestra commissioned by the Genesis Foundation, was given its UK premiere by Harry Christophers, The Sixteen and Britten Sinfonia at the Barbican Centre, London in October 2016.
[14] Past Genesis commissions include 'Spirit, Strength & Sorrow',[15] three new Stabat Mater pieces by composers Alissa Firsova, Tõnu Kõrvits and Matthew Martin;[16] 'O Guiding Night', music to poetry of the Spanish Mystics St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross by Ruth Byrchmore,[17] Tarik O'Regan and Roderick Williams;[18][19] settings of Padre Pio's Prayer by James MacMillan,[20] Roxanna Panufnik and Will Todd, and Will Todd's Among Angels,[21] commissioned in honour of John Studzinski's 50th birthday.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and the Dean of the Chapels Royal, Richard Chartres KCVO, officiated at the service and the music was performed by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen.
Newman: Meditation & Prayer included the world premieres of two new Genesis Foundation commissions, composed by Sir James MacMillan (Nothing in Vain) and Will Todd (I Shall be an Angel of Peace) for Harry Christophers and The Sixteen.
[24] Joining the musicians was Classic FM's flagship morning show presenter Alexander Armstrong, reading the words of Cardinal Newman and of the poet and churchman John Donne.
Past recipients of Genesis Future Directors Awards include Diyan Zora (Klippies, 2021), Dadiow Lin (In a Word, 2019),[38][39] Caitriona Shoobridge (Ivan and the Dogs, 2019),[40][41] Lekan Lawal (Wild East, 2018),42[42] Debbie Hannan (Things of Dry Hours, 2018),[43][44] John R. Wilkinson (Winter, 2017),[45] Nancy Medina (Yellowman, 2017),[46] Lucy J Skilbeck (The Bear and The Proposal, 2016),[47] Bryony Shanahan (Trade, 2016),[48] Ola Ince (Dutchman, 2015),[49] Rikki Henry (Creditors, 2015), Tinuke Craig (Dirty Butterfly, 2014),[50] Finn Beames (Man: Three plays by Tennessee Williams, 2014),[51] Matthew Xia (Sizwe Banzi is Dead, 2013), and Ben Kidd (The Shawl, 2012).
The £1m Genesis Kickstart Fund was established in 2020 to enable talented freelance artists to stay on their career paths and explore new possibilities in a world radically altered by COVID-19.
Recipients of grants from the Kickstart Fund will gain access to Genesis Connects, a network to enable artists and creative professionals to meet, foster new collaborations and benefit from mentoring opportunities.
[55] 2022 Cecilia McDowall – O Lord, make thy servant, Elizabeth†[56] 2021 Eoghan Desmond – Nothing in vain Lisa Robertson – ...a link in a chain... Anna Semple – A Meditation Sir James MacMillan – Nothing in vain[57] Will Todd – I Shall Be An Angel of Peace[58] 2020 Sir James MacMillan – Except the Lord build the house 2019 Bob Chilcott – O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me Sir James MacMillan – Le grand Inconnu[59] Angus McPhee – Panem Nostrum... Ave Maria[60] 2018 Phillip Cooke – Ave Maria, Mater Dei[61] Marco Galvani – Stella caeli[62] Sir James MacMillan – O virgo prudentissima Joseph Phibbs – Nesciens Mater Stephen Hough – Hallowed[63] 2016 Sir James MacMillan – Stabat mater[64] Will Todd – Whisper Him My Name 2014 Alissa Firsova[65] – Stabat mater Tõnu Kõrvits[66] – Stabat mater Matthew Martin[67] – Stabat mater 2011 Ruth Byrchmore – The Dark Night Ruth Byrchmore – Prayer of St. Teresa of Ávila[68] Tarik O'Regan – fleeting, God Tarik O'Regan – Beloved, all things ceased Roderick Williams – O Guiding Night Roderick Williams – Let nothing trouble you[69] 2008 Sir James MacMillan – Padre Pio's Prayer[70] Roxanna Panufnik[71] – Stay with me Will Todd – Stay with me, Lord 2006 Will Todd – Among Angels 1998 Roxanna Panufnik – Westminster Mass 2008 Isidora Žebeljan – The Marathon Family[72] 2006 David Bruce & Anna Reynolds – Push!
Emily Hall & Kit Peel – Sante 2003 Jurgen Simpson & Simon Doyle – Thwaite Paul Frehner & Angela Murphy – Sirius on Earth Jonathan Mills & Dorothy Porter – The Eternity Man Isidora Žebeljan – Zora D[73] 2023 Bob Chilcott – Harry Birthday to Ya 2019 Sir James MacMillan – Sing on, Sweet Thrush 2010 Chris Levine – LIGHT[74] 2003 Isidora Žebeljan – Song of a Traveller in the Night, Minstrel's Dance In 2012 the Genesis Foundation launched the Genesis Foundation Prize,[75] a £25,000 prize awarded bi-annually to a mentor whose work has effected real change in the practice and careers of arts professionals or graduates.
Dame Janet Suzman, vice-president of LAMDA and a close friend of John Studzinski, was keen to ensure that the arts weren't simply the privilege of the middle-classes and that training should be accessible to all.
She encouraged John Studzinski to set up the Genesis LAMDA Scholarships, supporting the academic journey of exceptionally talented students by paying their entire tuition fees over the three-year BA (Hons) course in Professional Acting and also by contributing towards their living expenses.
[80] Over a period of 21 years the Genesis LAMDA scholarships enabled a total of 25 talented students to thrive as they developed the requisite skills and resilience for a substantial career.
Among former Genesis LAMDA Scholars are Ben Aldridge, Samuel Barnett, Carys Bowkett,[81] Tom Riley, Abubakar Salim, Amy Stacy and Stuart Thompson.
The Genesis Foundation sponsored the Royal Academy of Arts' major exhibition, Bill Viola / Michelangelo: Life, Death, Rebirth, which ran from 26 January to 31 March 2019.