• Chamber Orchestra & Ensembles
  • Choral Societies
  • Corporate Entertainment

Who We Are

Camerata of London was founded by a diverse group of musicians whose common goal is to bring great live music to as wide an audience as possible. A modern-instrument chamber orchestra with a repertoire ranging from the early baroque to the contemporary, Camerata of London has performed in London venues including Queen Elizabeth Hall, St John's Smith Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James' Piccadilly, Fairfield Halls, and in community halls and churches throughout the Southeast of England.

Our membership includes young musicians starting out on their professional careers, together with a core of experienced orchestral and chamber players. Often working without a conductor, the orchestra has developed a strong sense of internal cohesion and musical vision.

Our professional services to choral societies include providing an orchestra or ensemble of any size, concert planning, music hire, stage management, marketing and promotion. We also provide high quality musical entertainment for private and corporate functions and parties.

We operate a number of educational programmes, including conductors' workshops, under the auspices of our parent organisation, Surrey Sinfonietta (Community Music).

Listen

Camerata of London’s Christmas Album

  • Dante Alcalá - tenor
    Pavol Breslik - tenor
    Rodney Clarke - bass-baritone
    Mihoko Fujimura - mezzo-soprano
    Wookyung Kim - tenor
    Dmitry Kochak - tenor
    Sylvie Valayre - soprano
    ---
    Julia Burkett - violin
    Alice Butcher - violin
    Chris Brody - violin
    Sojung Lee - cello
    Robert Hart - bass
    Lesley Pocknell - flute
    Hilary Dennis - oboe
    Sarah Thurlow - clarinet
    Tracey Thurlow - clarinet
    Amanda Lakin - bassoon
    Evgeny Chebykin - horn
    Trevor Denyer - horn
    Sian Monahan - piano

Executive Producer: Desmond Chewyn | Recording Producer: Simon Weir | Co-Executive Producer: Rachel Thomas | Balance Engineer: Morgan Roberts | Project Coordinators: Chris Brody, Hilary Dennis, Greta Shelley.

Music arranged specifically for this recording by David Hackbridge Johnson | The Snow Maiden by Alexandra Pakhmutova, text by S Grebennikov & N Dobronravov: specially arranged for this recording by the composer | Recording location: The Warehouse, London, 21 & 23 May 2007 | Cover photo © CHAUMET.

© 2007 The copyright in this recording is owned by Michael Storrs Music Ltd.

Hire the Orchestra

Chamber and Symphony Orchestra

Camerata of London usually comprises between 20 and 70 musicians, depending on repertoire requirements. It is ideally suited for works from the baroque and classical eras, and is equally at home with 20th century and contemporary repertoire.

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Thanks so much for getting such a great group together who performed admirably on the day. I received many wonderful comments about the orchestra and your beautiful playing.

Jeremy Haneman, Morley College Choir

Camerata of London is available for hire for concerts, choral society accompaniment, and for private functions and events. Our rates are very reasonable and you are assured a friendly and 100% professional service.

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The orchestra's participation was one of the highlights of the whole event. Please on my behalf thank everyone involved. I wouldn't hesitate to work with you again.

Mike Esa, ESA Live

Entertainment

From symphony orchestra to discreet background ensemble, we have musical groups of all sizes to suit any venue. Weddings, parties, company functions: whatever the event, Camerata of London can entertain you and your guests with beautiful music and make the occasion even more memorable. Please contact us for free advice and a quotation.

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A big 'thank you' for the wonderful performance by your quartet... It made for a truly memorable evening and was thoroughly enjoyed by the whole team.

Marks & Spencer

Chamber Ensembles

Camerata of London is a flexible organisation and features the following groups among its ranks:

  • String Orchestra
  • Camerata of London Brass
  • Wind Quintet
  • Oboe Quartet
  • String Quartet
  • String Trio
  • Camerata of London Duo
  • Solo instrumentalists
Choir and orchestra in a concert hall

Choral Societies

Camerata of London is very pleased to work with some of the top amateur choral societies in London and the Southeast, and we pride ourselves in presenting a high standard of orchestral performance to complement the hard work put into preparing these concerts. We have developed strong working relationships with a number of choral societies including Concordia Singers, Grove Singers of LondonHeathfield Choral Society and Una Voce.

I have had a lot of very complimentary comments back from members of the audience, and believe it was one of the best performances we have given, thanks to the professional and committed playing of Camerata of London. The Camerata has built up a wonderful relationship with the choir over the years and has never given less than its absolute best.
— Brian Newman (Director, Heathfield Choral Society and Grove Singers)

We offer a range of services in addition to the basic ones of fixing players and ensuring everything goes smoothly on the day. For example, we can help with selecting orchestral-only music to complement the choral works on your programme, and supply orchestral parts ready-marked with our own bowings, thus maximising the efficiency of your rehearsal.

Invite us to accompany your choir and we will gladly provide you with advice, or carry out your instructions, in any or all of the following areas of expertise:

  • Concert, event and festival planning

  • Venue selection and hire

  • Providing an orchestra of any size

  • Instrumental and vocal soloists

  • Music hire

  • Arrangements for reduced forces

  • Programme notes

  • Design, marketing and promotion (traditional and online media)

  • Ticket sales and audience building

  • Stage management

Camerata of London Wind Quintet is formed of principal wind players from the orchestra. As a quintet they have made a feature of popular ‘Sunday Afternoon Tea Concerts’ in and around London and the South East. In addition they have given lunchtime concerts at such prestigious venues as St John’s Smith Square alongside section principals from the orchestra's string section, performing such works as Spohr's Nonet.

They play a diverse range of music, using repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day, with a typical afternoon tea concert featuring such works as 'Tico Tico non Fuba' and 'Music from the Roaring Twenties', alongside works by Ibert, Arrieu, Mozart and Jim Parker. They are equally at home giving a formal music society concert or playing background music for social events such as weddings. Each player also has extensive solo experience, in addition to their work as both chamber and orchestral musician. 

Hilary Dennis

Oboe

Michelle Andrews

Clarinet

Martin Grainger

Horn

Howard Dann

Bassoon

Melanie Jones

Piano

  • Oboe

    Principal oboist with Camerata of London since its inception, Hilary also works as freelance musician playing in shows and concerts particularly in London and the South East. Concertos with the Camerata of London, Milton Keynes Sinfonia, Surrey Sinfonietta and the London Rehearsal orchestra have included works by Richard Strauss, JS Bach and Alwyn, also the first performance of Alan Clay’s oboe concerto.

    As a chamber musician she has been a member of Arlequinade trio, Syrinx Octet and the Mildmay Wind Quintet, with performances taking her to the Shetland Islands and Dubai. Recordings with Camerata of London have included a Christmas Album featuring soloists from the Royal Opera House. In addition to playing and teaching she has recently begun work as an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

  • Clarinet

    Michelle is a busy freelance musician working predominantly in the South East and has performed with the Philharmonia, the Haydn Chamber orchestra and London Mozart players. She has also toured extensively in Europe, including a performance of the Weber Concertino in the Eglise Saint-Merri in Paris.

    In addition to solo recitals in such places as Stowe and the Barbican she is also a busy chamber musician, having given concerts in the Foreign Office, Wigmore Hall and St James’ Piccadilly. Whilst playing with Sussex Symphony orchestra in the Brighton Dome, composer Paul Carr heard Michelle and was inspired to write his second clarinet concerto for her, which she premiered in October 2011.

  • Horn

    In addition to playing with Camerata of London, Martin currently holds the position of sub-principal horn with the London Mozart Players, which he combines with a busy freelance career. He has worked with such orchestras as the BBC Symphony and Concert orchestras, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, English National Ballet and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

    As a chamber musician, Martin also plays with Brass Monkeys Brass Quintet and the Locke Brass consort, as well as the LMP chamber ensemble and Brandenburg Sinfonia. He recently performed Mozart’s second Horn Concerto K417 with Forest Philharmonic, records regularly with the LMP and has played with groups as diverse as progressive rock band ‘The Enid’.

  • Bassoon

    Howard had early success as a chamber musician, winning the ‘June Emerson Launch-pad Prize’ for chamber music with the Emerson Quintet whilst studying for a postgraduate diploma at the Royal College of Music with Martin Gatt. He has played principal bassoon for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on a number of recordings, including two critically acclaimed operas with Opera Rara. With the same orchestra he has performed at Glyndebourne, the Lincoln Centre NY and throughout Europe.

    Howard has worked with the English National Ballet, English Chamber Orchestra, Swansea City Opera, Bristol Ensemble, Opera de Baugé, Sinfonia Cymru and the New Queens Hall Orchestra. As well as playing the bassoon, Howard is also a drummer and percussionist, playing in a Balkan gypsy folk band. He also has a keen interest in music production, which has led to working with all sorts of styles of music, including world music, jazz, folk, pop and classical. 

  • Piano – Regular Guest Artist

    Following four years at York University, Melanie completed her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in July 2009, where she studied with Malcolm Martineau and Daniel-Ben Pienaar. Melanie has played in venues including The Purcell Room, St John’s Smith Square, St James’ Piccadilly, Cheltenham Town Hall and The Royal Albert Hall.

    Festivals of which she has been a part include the Norwich and Norfolk Festival and the York Late Music Festival. Melanie was a Park Lane Group Young Artist for 2014/15 and has recently performed recitals at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and the Wigmore Hall.

Contact us.

To hire the orchestra, wind quintet, or any of our other chamber ensmbles please get in touch.
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