A CHAMBER group of musician friends, who got together in a spirit of adventure to bring music to new audiences, come to Dorset and Somerset for the November series of Concerts in the West. The Berkeley Ensemble will be at Bridport Arts Centre on Friday 15th for the usual coffee concert, at 11.30am, and Ilminster Arts Centre that evening at 7.30pm. The last of the series, and the final concert in the 2024 programme, is at Crewkerne’s Dance House on Saturday 16th at 7.30pm.

The Berkeley Ensemble come together from diverse corners of musical life, to make music in new ways and to reach new audiences. The line up is: Sophie Mather, Francesca Baritt andDan Shilladay, violins; Gemma Wareham, cello, Martin Ludenbach, double bass, John Slack, clarinet, Andrew Watson, bassoon and Paul Cott, horn.

The group was formed by friends with a shared desire to explore new repertoire, be it newly written or inadvertently forgotten. Its acclaimed performances and recordings celebrate contemporary chamber music, especially by British composers.

There have been nine albums, which include 18 premiere recordings among a diverse catalogue ranging from Knussen to Beethoven. The ensemble regularly appears at venues and festivals throughout the UK including Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room, St David’s Hall Cardiff, Wiltshire Music Centre and the Cheltenham, Spitalfields, and Lake District Summer Music Festivals.

Away from the concert platform, the Berkeley Ensemble works tirelessly to foster the creation, appreciation and performance of chamber music at every age, level and ability.

The programme for the November tour will be Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (arranged for string quintet and Howard Ferguson’s Octet (at Bridport) with an additional work, Schubert’s Octet at the evening venues.