Sarah Williamson is renowned as a virtuoso clarinettist whose talent has been recognised by concert-goers and critics alike. BBC Music Magazine wrote: ‘A tenacious player like Williamson doesn’t need gimmicks – her sonorous timbre and natural musicality speak for themselves.’ The Independent hailed her as a ‘superb player’; and The Telegraph praised Sarah’s ‘blend of languor and exuberance.’
As a soloist, Sarah has performed at many of the world’s major concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, The Wigmore Hall, The South Bank Centre, The Berlin Concerthaus, The Tonhalle Zurich, The Theatre des Champs-Elysèes Paris, The Suntory Hall and NHK Hall, Japan.
Sarah has performed and toured extensively with The Academy of St Martins in the Fields, The City of London Sinfonia, the BBC Concert orchestra, the LSO, BBC Concert Orchestra (broadcast live), The European Union Chamber Orchestra, The Brighton Philharmonic, The Royal Philharmonic (Classic FM live broadcast) and the Orchestra of the Swan.
Sarah is recognised as a leading interpreter of the Copland Concerto, a recording of which on the Somm label was recently played on ‘Building a Library’ on BBC Radio 3. Sarah is also active in the field of contemporary music: she has championed the music of Edward Longstaff who has written a ‘Prelude’ and ‘Nocturne’ specially for Sarah, both of which were premiered on BBC Radio 3, in addition to a clarinet concerto. She has also worked with Philip Grange and recorded his clarinet concerto. Sarah commissioned a new piece by Joseph Phibbs, ‘Arc de Soleil,’ which was premiered at the Wigmore Hall, and is currently championing the works of Graham Fitkin and the Beniamin Baczewski Clarinet Concerto.
The Piatti quartet’s name is dedicated to Alfredo Piatti, a 19th Century virtuoso cellist who was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music (the alma mater of the founder’s of the quartet) and also a major exponent of chamber music and contemporary music of his time.
Resident Quartet at Kings Place, London, the distinguished Piatti Quartet are widely renowned for their ‘profound music making’ (The Strad) and their ‘lyrical warmth’ (BBC Music Magazine). Since their prizewinning performances at the 2015 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, they have performed all over the world and made international broadcasts from many countries.
The Piattis are famed for their diverse programming and for passionate interpretations across the spectrum of quartet writing, and have commissioned and recorded some of the most major and impressive works added to the quartet canon in recent years.
Since their inception they have always had projects in the recording studio with critically acclaimed releases through Linn, Rubicon, Somm, Champs Hill, Hyperion, Delphian, Nimbus and NMC record labels. Their wide ranging discography and repertoire is thanks to their enthusiasm and curiosity in collaborating with a broad range of artists including some of the most recognisable names in classical music such as St. Martin’s Voices, Nicky Spence, Julius Drake, Michael Collins, Barry Douglas, Janina Fialkowska, Melvyn Tan, Ian Bostridge, Katherine Broderick, Adam Walker, Simon Callaghan and the Belcea Quartet. Accolades in 2023 include a Presto Music Award as one of the ‘Top 10 Recordings of the Year 2023’, a Gramophone’s ‘Editor’s Choice for the Month’ with NMC, a five star review from BBC Music Magazine with Delphian and in 2022 they were nominated for ‘Recording of the Year’ with both Limelight and Gramophone for their collaborative disc on the Hyperion label.
Contemporary music has been ever present in their repertoire and leaving a legacy to the quartet genre through commissions is one of the quartet’s central tenets. Major commissions and dedications have stemmed from Mark-Anthony Turnage, Emily Howard, Charlotte Harding, and Joseph Phibbs whilst they have premiered a mesmerising number of new works over the years beginning with Anna Meredith back in 2009. The Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Flagey Radio Hall Brussels, Wigmore Hall London, and the Aldeburgh Festival are some of the high profile occasions where new music has been presented and recordings of Turnage’s quartets 1-4 and Gavin Higgins’ chamber music has also been extensively lauded by critics.
Historical research into quartet music that has been undiscovered or deserves to be better known has led to the premiere recording of Ina Boyle’s (Ireland) SQ in E minor, and performances of lesser known quartet gems by Ralph Vaughan Williams, E.J. Moeran, Rachmaninov, Ireland, Haas, Ulmann, and Durosoir.
For more information about Sarah Williamson visit her website and for the Piatti Quartet visit their website
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This concert was kindly supported by Making Music’s Philip & Dorothy Green Young Artists scheme
The Portrait Players are a UK-based trio bringing 17th and 18th century music to modern audiences. Described in its debut concert as ‘beguiling’, The Portrait Players is an all-female trio whose engaging programmes are inspired by historical characters. Featuring Claire Ward (soprano), Kristiina Watt (theorbo/lute) and Miriam Nohl (cello/viola da gamba), the trio, founded in January 2023, has quickly established a busy concert schedule across the UK.
Upcoming engagements for 2024-2025 season include recitals at Handel Hendrix House, London, Stoller Hall, Manchester and Buxton International Music Festival, as well as the launch of the Louise Labé Song Project, expanding the trio’s popular programme ‘Les Femmes Illustres‘ with a contemporary song cycle by composer Clare Elton. Click here to read more about this project.
The ensemble made its debut at St. Martin-in-the-fields in autumn 2023 in a recital hosted by City Music Foundation. Further concerts include performances at Brighton Early Music Festival, Amersham Festival, Surrey Hills International Music Festival, St. Pancras Clock Tower, Northumbria University, Barts’ Great Hall in the City of London, New College Oxford, The Workshop Series Lewes, University College Oxford, and collaborations with Opera Prelude in London and Henley.
Since its genesis, the trio have been supported by a number of emerging ensemble programmes, including the Stoller Hall Emerging Artist Programme (2024/2025), Making Music/Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artist Scheme (2024/2025) BREMF Live! (2023/2024) and Live Music Now (2023-2025). They took part in the 2024 RCM/NCEM/BBC Radio 3 New Generation Baroque Ensemble Development Day and have had the opportunity to develop their work with Dame Emma Kirkby, Sophie Daneman, Laurence Cummings, Christopher Suckling and Liz Kenny.
Graduates of the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music, the three members of The Portrait Players each lead busy freelance lives and work with many of Europe’s leading orchestras and ensembles including The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Academy of Ancient Music, La Nuova Musica, The English Concert and The Monteverdi Choir.
For more information about The Portrait Players visit their website
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Former BBC New Generation Artists, the Galliard Ensemble is established as one of Britain’s leading chamber groups, with repertoire ranging from Mozart and Beethoven to Berio and Birtwistle. Now in its 30th year, the ensemble has performed in many of the world’s leading venues and festivals, including Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre, Bridgewater Hall, Sage Gateshead and at the BBC Proms. They have also performed in Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland and Slovenia and are frequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and around the World.
The Galliard Ensemble is known for its virtuosic, entertaining and distinctive performance style and its recordings have been widely praised; the Sunday Times, BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone, and BBC Radio 3 have all selected a Galliard Ensemble CD as “outstanding” or as Critics’ Choice.
They have worked closely with many leading contemporary composers, including György Ligeti and with Sir Harrison Birtwistle, on his quintet Five Distances (for their performance at the BBC Proms) which led to their award-winning CD of Birtwistle’s chamber music for winds.
In 2013 they ran the ‘Galliard Anniversary Composition Competition’ to mark their 20th year.
The Galliard Ensemble is passionate about bringing music to a diverse audience realising the positive impact that music can have on learning and personal development. Their educational work ranges from concerts for children to masterclasses at leading conservatoires and universities such as Royal Northern College of Music, University of Cardiff, Trinity Laban, and at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
For more information about the Galliard Ensemble visit their website
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This concert was made possible with support from The Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Montenegrin cellist Kosta Popović, born in Podgorica, Montenegri in 2000, studied under his father, Mladen Popović, before moving to the UK in 2017 to attend Whitgift School, where he was awarded the Headmaster’s music scholarship, and Junior Guildhall. In 2019, he began his undergraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2023.
Kosta has performed internationally as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. As a founding member of the Fibonacci Quartet, he won First Prize at the Royal Overseas League and CAVATINA competitions. He has collaborated with renowned artists at the Santander Festival, MDW Summer Academy, and more. A recipient of numerous awards, he has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Academy of Ancient Music. Currently, Kosta is in his second year of master’s studies at GSMD under professor Louise Hopkins.
Kosta is the founding member of the Fibonacci Quartet formed in September 2019. In 2020 the ensemble won the First as well as the Audience prize at the Beethoven Competition for young musicians. Being the youngest competitors competing. Shortly after that they won 1st prize at St James Chamber Music Competition in London. Based in Guildhall School of Music and Drama coached and mentored by Krysia Osostowicz. They have also received further guidance by the members of the Castalia, Endellion, Bozzini and Consone Quartets as well as Adrian Brendel and the Gould Trio.
Valentina Wang is an Italian pianist based in London, currently in demand as a versatile collaborative pianist, chamber musician and song accompanist. She is a recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she completed an Artist Diploma course in Piano Accompaniment under the guidance of Caroline Palmer.
She previously obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Solo Piano Performance at Conservatorio Peri in Reggio Emilia, Italy, where she was awarded the ‘Giovanna and Fabrizia Magnani’ scholarship for outstanding academic achievement.
She is a prizewinner of several national and international competitions. Among them are J.S Bach Competition, Castiglion Fiorentino Competition, G.Rospigliosi Competition, and Steinway Piano Competition. Together with Lycos Trio, founded in 2019, she won First Prize at Palmanova International Competition, Piove di Sacco Competition and Sarzana International Competition. Most recently, she was awarded first prize at the 2025 Jubilee Accompaniment Prize at Guildhall.
Recent appearances include performances at St. James Piccadilly, St. Olaves Church, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Teatro Romolo Valli, Musica d’Estate Festival in Bardonecchia, ‘Dialoghi sul comporre’ Festival in Reggio Emilia, Pistoia Musica Antica and Kalvia Baroque Festival in Finland. She also appeared as an orchestral pianist, performing at Barbican Concert Hall with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra.
As a passionate collaborative pianist, she has been working with Conservatorio Peri and Conservatorio Monteverdi as a staff pianist. She was selected for an Erasmus internship at Conservatorio Segui in Castellon de la Plana, and is currently a freelance professional accompanist at Guildhall.
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“Technically astonishing, eclectic in repertoire, and prepared to explode cliches of what brass chamber music should sound like” – The Arts Desk
Winners of the Inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition and the Royal Overseas League Competition, Connaught Brass seek to redefine how brass chamber music is perceived. Blending a deep respect for the genre’s rich heritage with a fresh, youthful perspective, their performances are not only marked by vibrance and boldness, but with warmth and approachability, reflecting the strong camaraderie at the heart of the ensemble. Through brand-new commissions, audience-favourite arrangements and a commitment to originality, Connaught Brass breathe new life into tradition, offering a unique and engaging concert experience with the ultimate goal of bringing brass chamber music to the forefront of today’s musical world.
The Connaughts have shared their music-making widely across the UK and Europe at venues including London’s Wigmore Hall, the Lucerne Festival, De Doelen Rotterdam, Societá Filarmonica Trento, Snape Maltings, Kings Place, St George’s Bristol, Hidden Doors Arts Festival Edinburgh and Music for Wexford Ireland. Additional highlights include performing live on radio from the Concertgebouw’s Spiegelzaal and regularly on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune programme. The 24/25 season will see the group make debut performances at the Barbican Centre in London and in Wales at Cowbridge Music Festival, return to Ferrandou Musique Festival in France and undertake an exciting collaboration project with pianist Zeynep Özsuca, alongside an extensive performance schedule across the rest of the UK.
In previous years, the quintet have become artists of the Tillett Trust, City Music Foundation, Kirckman Concert Society and Britten Pears Chamber Music Residency. They also take great pride in undertaking masterclasses at conservatoires and education work in primary and secondary schools across the UK and Europe, including that supported by the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust and the Musicians Company.
Having been principal players and members of the European Union Youth Orchestra, Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, members of Connaught Brass perform regularly on the professional orchestral circuit. They have performed with prestigious orchestras and companies, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Sinfonia of London, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Royal Opera House, English National Opera, English National Ballet, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, and Ulster Orchestra. In addition to their classical work, they are also in high demand commercially, collaborating with high-profile artists such as Stormzy, Jamie Cullum, Bruno Mars, Florence and the Machine, Alison Sudol, and Cody Fry.
For more information about Connaught Brass visit their website
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“A sparkling collection of songs and music”
Jacqui Dankworth MBE is one of the most highly regarded vocalists in the UK. Known primarily as a jazz singer, Jacqui’s unique musical palette also draws on folk, soul, classical, blues, and other influences. Her concert appearances and numerous recordings showcase her virtuosic, seemingly effortless mastery of a variety of genres.
Recent recording projects include “Rocking Horse Road”, an album project with The Brodsky String Quartet (2022, Chandos Records) and filming/recording at Abbey Road Studios with artist Sonia Boyce for the original performance art piece “Feeling Her Way”, which won the Golden Lion at the 2022 Venice Biennale and is currently touring the UK and Canada.
Television appearances include the BBC TV’s “Jazz 625: One Night Only” with Gregory Porter, Joshua Redman & others, as well as live performances and interviews on BBC Breakfast, the Paul O’Grady Show, and The One Show.
Jacqui made her Edinburgh Fringe debut in 2023 with her one-woman show Siren Songs. Other notable concert appearances include New Year’s Eve with the Liverpool Philharmonic, a special performance of her Songs Of Stage and Screen programme with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, a headline concert at Cadogan Hall in London with members the RPO and the BBC Big Band, and as guest vocalist on Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night. Jacqui appeared as Eleanor in The Opera Company’s production of Alban Berg’s Lulu (entitled American Lulu) with the London Sinfonietta, with tour dates including the Edinburgh Festival, the Bregenzer Festspiele in Austria, and the Young Vic in London.
Jacqui is also an accomplished actor, having performed leading parts with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and in London’s West End. Highlights include the part of Cinderella in Steven Sondheim’s London premier of Into The Woods, Sophisticated Ladies (a celebration of the music of Duke Ellington) and Les Liaisons Dangereuses with the RSC.
Jacqui appeared as Rosa in the second series of The Borgias starring Jeremy Irons (Showtime TV) and made a cameo appearance in the film Les Miserables directed by Tom Hooper. In Oct./Nov. 2021 Jacqui appeared in a new musical adaptation of Indecent Proposal at Southwark Playhouse, London.
Jacqui is constantly touring with her own band and has performed and recorded with a diverse array of celebrated musicians, including the Carducci String Quartet, Courtney Pine, Marvin Hamlisch, Paloma Faith, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Gretchen Parlato, Clare Teale, Georgie Fame, David Gordon, Charlie Wood, Gregory Porter, The London Symphony Orchestra, and legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea.
Charlie Wood is a singer/songwriter and keyboardist whose eclectic musical style incorporates elements of jazz, blues, traditional r&b and popular music. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Wood’s early musical development was steeped in the blues and R&B music of his hometown. At seventeen, he headed down to New Orleans, spending several years soaking up the exotic piano traditions and lush lifestyle of the Big Easy.
Charlie’s early twenties found him on the road as keyboard player for legendary blues guitarist Albert King, with whom he toured the US and Europe. Returning to his hometown, Wood soon established a long-standing residency at King’s Palace on Memphis’ historic Beale Street, performing nightly with his Hammond organ trio for many years. The gig became known to touring musicians and locals alike, attracting impromptu sit-ins from B.B. King, Georgie Fame, Joey DeFrancesco, George Coleman, Mulgrew Miller, Alvin Batiste, and many others. Honors received during these years included being awarded the Freedom of the City and a dedicated ‘Charlie Wood Day’ by Memphis City Council, the N.A.R.A.S. Premier Player Award for Keyboards and the Beale St. Merchants’ Association Entertainer of the Year” award.
In October 2014, Wood became the 136th recipient of a Brass Note on Beale Street, the Memphis equivalent of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Previous recipients include such musical luminaries as Al Green and Isaac Hayes.
Wood is an accomplished and prolific singer/songwriter and has received stellar reviews for his original releases, including Southbound and Who I Am on Ben Sidran’s GoJazz label and Flutter and Wow on Memphis-based Archer Records. His original song Promised Land won first prize in the 2015 U.S.A. Songwriting Competition (jazz category). Another original composition, Never Gonna Stop New Orleans, was recorded by soul great Irma Thomas and included in Harry Shearer’s documentary film, The Big Uneasy.
Wood is also becoming recognised as a talented and original arranger, with recent scores performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Liverpool Philharmonic, the Brodsky Quartet, the Royal Marine Band, the Back To Basie Bigband, and others. He has also recently been made a Professor of the Guildhall School of Music, London, where he teaches voice and improvisation.
Now living in the UK with his wife, renowned jazz vocalist Jacqui Dankworth, MBE, Charlie continues touring and recording regularly. Notable appearances have included the London Jazz Festival’s Jazz Voice at the Barbican, BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Radio 2’s Jools Holland Show and numerous other performances throughout the UK and Europe.
Wood’s 2014 solo CD New Souvenirs (released on Perdido Records, co-produced by Ms. Dankworth) featured twelve new original Charlie Wood compositions and garnered rave reviews from Jazzwise, R2 Magazine, Jazz Journal, Record Collector, and elsewhere. Jacqui and Charlie’s much anticipated duets album, Just You, Just Me, was released on Perdido Records in autumn 2016.
Wood’s seventh studio album Tomorrow Night was inititally released on Perdido Records and is now out alongside several other classics from his catalogue via Karousel Buried Treasure.
Tracks from Tomorrow Night– some self-penned, others made famous by BB King, Otis Redding, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, Al Green- have received considerable radio airplay (both in the UK and in the US) before and since its release, and Wood has guest featured on Nigel Williams’s show on Jazz FM and on Robert Elms’s show on BBC London Radio. The release of Tomorrow Night comes four years after his last solo record and Charlie is soon to be going into the studio to record his next studio release. Before that, there is the small matter of his organ trio record, Privacy Policy. Watch the website for news on both those forthcoming releases.
For more information about Jacqui Dankworth visit her website and for Charlie Wood visit his website