Chapel Music
The University of Glasgow Chapel Choir and University Organist
The University of Glasgow Chapel Choir provides music for services and events in the chapel and elsewhere, as well as giving concerts and recitals throughout the academic year, such as the weekly "Choral Contemplations" series in the first and second terms. It also records and tours nationally and internationally, has recorded several CDs, and is available for weddings and memorial services.
There are thirty-two regular members (a mixture of volunteers, paid choral exhibitioners and professional lay clerks) plus around ten associate singers who join us for concerts and some other events. All are auditioned regularly and receive free singing tuition.
The choir is directed by Katy Lavinia Cooper (Director of Chapel Music) and accompanied by Kevin Bowyer (University Organist).
The Chapel Organ was built by Henry Willis III in 1927 and was most recently refurbished by Harrison & Harrison of Durham in 2005. Please see Chapel Organ Specification (PDF).
Lunchtime Concert: Sidiki Dembélé
Join us for a lunchtime performance with multi-instrumentalist Sidiki Dembélé, and hear the mesmerizing sounds of traditional African percussion like never before.
Music in the University
Date: Thursday 26 February 2026
Time: 13:10 - 14:00
Venue: University Concert Hall
Category: Concerts and music
This event is free! Booking is via Eventbrite: please follow the link below to reserve your space.
Welcome to the world of Sidiki Dembélé, where the vibrant rhythms of traditional African music come alive and warm the soul. A multi-instrumentalist originally from the Ivory Coast, Sidiki comes from a celebrated Malian griot family of musicians, diplomats, and oral historians. Raised in the rich cultural traditions of his ancestors, he began his musical journey at the tender age of five. By the time he was ten, Sidiki was playing professionally at prestigious events, and by fourteen, he was traveling across West Africa, performing as part of various African ballet companies and leading as a musical director. Music is truly in his blood.
Sidiki’s heart belongs to the djembe, a drum he reveres as “a spiritual force, teaching us to live in peace, love, respect, humility, and tolerance.” His passion for the djembe has taken him around the world, where he is celebrated for his explosive and soul-stirring performances. Whether with the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Royal Shakespeare Company, or at the 2021 BBC Proms with the Manchester Collective, his performances transport audiences straight to the heart of West Africa. Sidiki’s talent also extends to theatre, where he composed and directed music for Giles Terera’s acclaimed The Meaning of Zong and collaborated with the Royal Ballet on a new South African choreography.
Now based in Manchester, UK, Sidiki continues to share his extraordinary talent globally, teaching workshops and masterclasses, and passing on his deep knowledge and love for African music. Sidiki’s passion for education is evident in his commitment to giving back. He founded a school in Côte d’Ivoire for disadvantaged children to learn traditional music, and the first graduates have now formed the self-sufficient group, Denifari. Twice a year, Sidiki leads immersive trips to his homeland, where students can learn djembe, dundun, and dance from griot masters in the heart of his family home.
sidikidjembe.org | @sidikidjembekindom
