New London Chamber Ensemble (NLCE)

Projects & Concerts

Theatre

The nlce is committed to explore the theatrical and staging possibilities of performance, which has led to exciting collaborative work with Danny Scheinmann, inspiring several staged/semi-staged works in its repertoire, including Berio’s Opus Number Zoo.

Similarly, the group is committed to commissioning new works and encourage composers to defy conventional styles of presentation and include theatrical elements.

Commissions

In writing new works for the nlce, composers have been invited to defy conventional styles of presentation and include theatrical elements. One of the first new commissions is scored for quintet and metronome; written by Edward Longstaff, entitled Public/Private - premièred in June 2003 at the Corsham Festival. A second commission, also by Edward Longstaff, entitled Doublings and Couplings (based on the Beckett play Come and Go), was premièred to great acclaim at the International Double Reed Society Conference in Banff, August 2002. The nlce also commissioned a new work the 3rd book of studies from John Woolrich in celebration of his fiftiethth birthday year.

Education

Since 2001, the nlce has been ‘Quintet in Residence’ to the National Youth Chamber Orchestra of Great Britain; a youth chamber orchestra for highly talented young musicians which performs without a conductor. The Ensemble’s work involves coaching orchestral and chamber music repertoire in preparation for bi-annual concerts.

In 2003 the Ensemble also worked with Nuphonics Young Composers in an education project allied to the East Sussex Wind Orchestra. The nlce is committed to taking music into schools and other institutions, particularly those that may lack exposure to the arts, increasing accessibility through its work with actors and choreographers.

Performance highlights

Trasimeno Festival

July 2008

  • An invitation from renowned pianist Angela Hewitt to appear at the Trasimeno Music Festival in Italy
  • Newbury Spring Festival

    May 2008

    creative:space

  • a collobaration with creative arts charity Create presenting special concerts for disabled children and their families
  • Tour to Sweden

    Leeds International Concert Season

    October 2005

  • Instrument Zoo
  • - part of the acclaimed season in Leeds

    Deal Festival

    July 2005

    Sounds New Festival, Canterbury

    March 2005

    University of East Anglia, Norwich

    Residency at Sweden’s Nyland Festival

    Summer 2004

    Residency with East Sussex Wind Orchestra

    July 2003

    Borenstein Festival, St James’s, Piccadilly

    July 2003

    Corsham Festival

    June 2003

    Residency with the National Youth Chamber Orchestra

    April 2003-08

    Residency at the Swaledale Festival

    Summer 2003 and 2004

    Canadian Tour

    August 2002

    Canadian High Commission, Canada House, London

    February 2002

    Showcase concert

    The Two Moors Festival

    October 2001 (inaugural public concert)

    The nlce combined with percussionist Adrian Spillet and narrators Prunella Scales & Timothy West to give the first performance of a new arrangement of William Walton’s Façade, commissioned for them by the festival and written by Edward Watson of the RSC

    Past Performances

    21 September 2007 Merlin Music Society, Monmouth
    Blake Theatre, Monmouth

    6 October 2007 - Basingstoke Concert Club
    Trinity Methodist Church, Sarum Hill, Basingstoke

    12 October 2007 Truro Three Arts
    Mylor Theatre, Truro College

    27 October 2007HHH Concerts, Haslemere
    St Christopher’s Church Weyhill, Haslemere

    17 February 2008 - Leeds International Concert Season - Musical Carousel
    Leeds College of Music

    2 March 2008 - creative:space - interactive music events for disabled children and their families
    Reading Concert Hall

    14 March 2008 – Country Concerts, Stamford

    15 March 2008 Welwyn Garden Concert Club
    Campus West Theatre, Welwyn Garden City

    27-30 March 2008 - National Youth Chamber Orchestra Residency

    14 April 2008 Huddersfield Music Society
    St Paul’s Hall, Queensgate, Huddersfield

    18 May 2008 - Newbury Spring Festival
    St Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, Berkshire

    8 June 2008 - creative:space - interactive music events for disabled children and their families
    Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL

    17 June 2008 – Midsummer Concerts
    with Angela Hewitt (piano)
    The Barn, Little Moorden, Leigh, near Tonbridge, Kent

    22 June 2008 - creative:space - interactive music events for disabled children and their families
    The Bradbourne School, Sevenoaks, TN13 3LE
    Sevenoaks Festival

    3 July 2008 - Trasimeno Music Festival, Italy
    with Angela Hewitt (piano)
    Castle of the Knights of Malta, Magione
    Trasimeno Music Festival

    30 July 2008 - Cambridge Summer Music Festival

    13 November 2008 - Live at St Wilfrid’s!
    St Wilfrid’s, Warrington

    20 November 2008 - Djanogly Theatre Lakeside Arts Centre
    University of Nottingham

    7 December 2008 - creative:space - interactive music events for disabled children and their families
    Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL

    26 February 2009 - Pound Arts Centre
    Corsham, Wilts

    28 February 2009 - Churchill Music

    21 March 2009 - Elmbridge Music Club

    9-11 April 2009 - National Youth Chamber Orchestra residency

    11 May 2009 - Mall Galleries, London SW1
    Special event for the AMBER Trust

    19/20 May 2009 - Bath Spa University
    Residency in the music department of Bath Spa University

    17 July 2009 - Wigmore Hall
    New London Chamber Ensemble and Friends
    Martinů (1890-1959) and Spohr (1784-1859) Anniversary Concert
    Kindly supported by the Chambers of Stephen Hockman QC, 6 Pump Court

    Future Work

    Thanks to funding from the PRS Foundation, the nlce undertook a ‘call for works’ in 2006 to attract new commissions from British composers to be performed in future seasons. As a result of the project, composer Martyn Harry has been commissioned to write a work for the ensemble, Lot’s Wife, with a further work from runner-up composer Alison Beckett, Queue, having been premièred in February 2007.

    12 February 2010, 7.30pm - Alnwick Playhouse
    Alnwick Playhouse, Bondgate Without, Alnwick NE66 1PQ
    Tickets: £11 Tel 01665 510785

    13 February 2010, 7.30pm - Darlington Music Society
    Darlington Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, Darlington DL3 7AX
    Tickets: £10 (£9 OAPs) Tel 01325 486555 or on the door
    Darlington Music Society

    21 March 2010 - creative:space - interactive music events for disabled children and their families
    Henry Wood Hall, Trinity Church Square, London SE1 4HU
    Performances at 11.15am and 2.15pm
    Tickets: £6 (adults) & £4 (children)
    anna@createarts.org.uk or for downloadable booking form click here

    23 March 2010, 8.00pm - Radlett Music Club
    Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL
    Tickets: £12 Tel 01923 859291 or on the door
    Radlett Music Club

    3-5 April 2010 - National Youth Chamber Orchestra Residency