Cavendish Winds is an award-winning wind quintet formed at the Royal Academy of Music in 2014. They have performed in concerts, educational projects, and competitions throughout the UK and abroad and are establishing a reputation as one of country’s leading chamber ensembles. Highlights include recitals at Wigmore Hall, Saint Martin-in-the-Fields, Saffron Hall, Kings Place Festival, and a private fundraiser event performance for the Elton John Aids Foundation. Cavendish Winds are Concordia Foundation Artists, were finalists in the 2016 Royal Overseas League competition and are recipients of the Tunnell Trust Award 2017-18. The quintet are delighted to have been selected as Making Music Artists for 2019-20.
Cavendish Winds are passionate about sharing music in the wider community and regularly work with people of all ages and backgrounds, from toddler and schools workshops to relaxed concerts in care homes. They were the Fellow Ensemble with Wigmore Hall Learning and Open Academy from 2016-17 where they received training and worked alongside leading facilitators such as John Webb, Julian West, and Ignite Ensemble.
The Quintet are committed to exploring and expanding the wind repertoire by presenting innovative programmes. They have commissioned and premiered new works from an array of composers such as Gilles Silvestrini, Daniel Ehrlich, and Freya Ireland, with support from groups including the Royal Philharmonic Society and Duet Group. Earlier this year the quintet worked with British composer James Moriarty on a commission entitled Softly, softly, which was premiered on their Scottish Tour.
Before forming, four of its members were previously section principals in the National Youth Chamber Orchestra, whilst a fifth served in the Royal Marines Band Service. They owe their combined educational experience to the Universities of Oxford and Manchester, King’s College London, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. All perform in various ensembles including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as in West End shows and jazz ensembles.
The quintet are fortunate to have received coaching from many eminent musicians, including Angela Malsbury, Robin O’Neill, Melanie Ragge, Lis Dooner and Tim Brown. They are grateful for the support of the Tunnell Trust’s Music Coll which they attended supported by a full scholarship for two consecutive summers from 2016-17 on the Isle of Coll in Scotland.
When they're not making music, Cavendish Winds enjoy cooking together, playing word games and ceilidh dancing.
Free recital (retiring collection)