PASSIA by Liz Dilnot Johnson

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Passia, composed by Liz Dilnot Johnson, will be our most vocally and emotionally charged commission to date, exploring the Passion story from the perspective of five women at the foot of the cross: Mary (Christ’s mother); Mary Magdalene; Veronica; and sisters Martha and Mary. Each role will be sung by a member of Papagena, with additional material for upper voice choir.

Lasting around 45 minutes, the text of Passia explores universal themes of motherhood, loss and love through the eyes of those often marginalised in traditional Passion narratives. This work will offer a significant contribution, both to contemporary Passiontide repertoire and to the still comparatively limited library of major extended works available to women’s voices. 

Target: £12,000

Why do we need your help?

We are seeking to raise £12k which will go towards paying for Liz Dilnot-Johnson’s thought-provoking piece and the work associated with preparing for this ambitious new project for Papagena and upper voice choir. If we are lucky enough to exceed our target, then any additional funds raised will go towards funding the rehearsal, promotion and venue hire costs involved in presenting performances of Passia during Holy Week 2026. 

Papagena receives no public funding or commercial sponsorship of any kind, neither is it a registered charity, so we rely entirely on our own resources and the generosity of the public to make inspiring projects like Passia happen. We are so grateful for any support you can give us.