Canterbury Cathedral and the University of Kent present
Faith, Culture, and the Arts
In conversation with Joanna Marsh and Revd Dr Emma Pennington
Tuesday 5 May, 16:00
Speakers: Joanna Marsh and Revd Dr Emma Pennington
Venue: Online via Zoom
The University of Kent and Canterbury Cathedral present regular seminars on Faith, Culture, and the Arts, to exploring key themes of theology, culture, spirituality, the arts, and social justice in an accessible and inclusive setting.
This next seminar is an online conversation with the composer Joanna Marsh, whose piece ‘All Shall be Well’, as setting of text by the medieval spiritual writer Julian of Norwich, was performed by Canterbury Cathedral Choir at the installation of Archbishop Sarah Mullally in March 2026. Joanna will be in conversation with Revd Dr Emma Pennington, Canon Missioner at Canterbury Cathedral and scholar in medieval spiritual writings, especially that of Julian of Norwich.
There will also be an exploration of some of Joanna’s other musical compositions, including a setting of Malcolm Guite’s poem ‘Refugee’.
It is organised by the Michael Ramsey Chair in Theology, Professor of Faith, Culture and the Arts, Jonathan Arnold.
Free to attend. All welcome. Online only event.
Composer
Joanna Marsh
Joanna Marsh has been hailed by The Guardian as ‘one of today’s leading composers for the voice’. She has an extensive catalogue of music which includes In Winter’s House, which she wrote to a commission for Tenebrae, and a celebrated triptych of anthems composed for The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge.
Her BBC Radio 3 commission, Flare, was performed at the BBC Proms in 2022 by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and SEEN, for choir and electronics, was performed by the BBC Singers as part of the 2023 BBC Proms. Her 2020 solo album, Flare, features music performed by the BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, and The Choir of Royal Holloway, University of London. In 2021 The Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, released an album of her choral music on the conclusion of her five year composer residency. In 2022 she won the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Choral Music with All Shall Be Well.
