Langdale Ensemble

Royal Northern College of Music, Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, 2002

Lisa Davies, flute
Bethan Roberts, oboe
Marianne Rawles, clarinet
Sarah Nixon, bassoon
Andrew Maher, horn

The Langdale Ensemble was formed in 1997 at the Royal Northern College of Music and is named after the valley in the Lake District, where the group has enjoyed working holidays.

Whilst at the RNCM, members have performed regularly with all the major college ensembles including the RNCM Sinfonia, Symphony, Chamber and Wind Orchestras and the New Ensemble. Outside of college they have played in the orchestras of Opera North, Northern Sinfonia, the Northern Junior Philharmonic Orchestra, Camerata Scotland and the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland and Wales. The ensemble have received coaching from eminent teachers and players including Edward Warren, Timothy Reynish, James Gourlay, Jonathan Small, David Chatwin, Robert Ashworth, John Reynolds and Clark Rundell as well as from visiting artists such as the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet and the Pollux Wind Quintet.

The Langdale Ensemble has performed extensively in Manchester and around the North of England and North Wales. In September 2000, they were selected by the Royal Northern College to participate in an international music festival in Tuscany. Another highlight has been performing live on BBC Radio 3 on Brian Kay's Sunday Morning programme. In June 2001, they were awarded the RNCM's prestigious Professional Performance Diploma with Distinction.

Forthcoming performances include recitals in Liverpool, Whitehaven and Kendal. As well as performing in formal recitals, the ensemble also enjoys playing for educational workshops and providing background music for corporate occasions.

The Langdale Ensemble appears by kind permission of the Principal, Royal Northern College of Music.