A 200-seat "boutique" concert hall is to open in London, billed as the first new one of its kind since 2008.
Music charity World Heart Beat is opening the performance and music education centre in south London.
Located in a development at Nine Elms and part of the ongoing expansion of Embassy Gardens, the 200-capacity concert hall is the first new concert hall to be built in London since the opening of Kings Place by London’s King’s Cross station.
The £3.65 million project will open its doors on November 1. The funding comes from trusts, individual donors and statutory support, Arts Council England and the Levelling-Up Fund.
It will be the second music education centre for the charity, building on the work that already comes from the Kimber Road music academy.
World Heart Beat founder Sahana Gero said: "We are honoured to be opening up World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens to add to the vibrancy and excitement around the new Nine Elms area. It is such a privilege to be able to contribute to the community with a state-of-the-art boutique concert hall and a music education facility. Music brings everyone together, it brings joy by linking communities and breaking down political, economic and cultural barriers.
"We would like to think of World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens as an inspiring place to be, a citadel for musical aspirations and achievement. A welcoming home for all."
Rory Aitkenhead designed the concert hall, and the auditorium is the first in the UK to install a 360-degree sound system, ensuring every audience member will experience the same sound quality, regardless of their position in the hall.
The venue also includes state-of-the-art recording studios, teaching spaces, an outside broadcast studio and a café/bar.
World Heart Beat provides tuition and performance opportunities for 380 young people each year outside school hours.
The 2023 music line-up for the venue includes performances by Julian Joseph, Omar Puente, Kamal Sabri, Yevgeny Sudbin and the Amatis Trio.
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