Darwin Ensemble

The Darwin Ensemble Chamber Orchestra (DECO) was founded in September 2008, with its inaugural concert on 31 January 2009 in Lichfield Cathedral — its home base. DECO’s remit is to serve the Cathedral and the local community which, it in its turn, is served by the Cathedral. DECO's Artistic Director is Alexander Laing, and the Conductor is Philip Scriven (Lichfield Cathedral Organist and Master of the Choristers). Anna Ambrose and Meredith Thompson are also involved in the day-to-day running of the Orchestra.

DECO’s repertoire will be mainly popular and accessible classical music. It aims to draw the local community, especially children, into the world of classical music in the inspiring setting of one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the country. Children are invited to attend each concert’s afternoon rehearsal free of charge. (Please contact first to arrange this.) This is an opportunity to see how an orchestral concert is put together. Rehearsals reveal details of the interpretation of instrumental music — historical style, tempi, dynamics, and musical colouring — and show the techniques used to achieve the desired effects. Children’s tickets for the evening concerts (where they can hear the ‘finished product’ that they witnessed being shaped) will be only £5.00.

The Cathedral Chapter has generously donated the use of the Cathedral to host three concerts in 2009 — January 31, May 2 and September 26. It will also be possible to hear members of DECO play for three Cathedral services during the year.

For the first concert on January 31, Simon Blendis (Schubert Ensemble; leader Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) joins DECO to perform Mozart’s G Major Violin Concerto. The programme features Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1. For the second concert on May 2 DECO strings play a programme to include Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

Funding is sought from Charitable Trusts and from corporate and personal sponsorship: please get in touch if you feel you can help DECO venture financially, whether by a donation or by becoming a "Friend". You can download a form to fill in here if you would like to donate to the orchestra. Formal requests for sponsorship will appear soon. Alexander Laing will supply more information on request.

Please feel free to contact DECO with any further enquiries.

DECO gratefully acknowledges valuable support from the Kathleen Hannay Memorial Trust and the Arimathea Charitable Trust.