Artistic Director
CurrentThe Engines Orchestra (eO) makes sounds that defy conventions. Uniting London’s most adventurous young classical, jazz, world and folk musicians we’re a community working closely with other artists to push the boundaries and develop audiences for groundbreaking, new music. Large-scale collaborations, educational projects and artist development schemes surround our core values. We make music for thinking, dancing and purely enjoying; allowing everyone the opportunity to experience something fresh along the way. We work with composers from all genres, animators, filmmakers and dancers to create accessible ways into challenging environments… whilst never being afraid to let our hair down. We make creative music, together.Recognition from both Help Musicians UK’s Peter Whittingham Jazz Award and Arts Council England quickly followed in support of the Engines Orchestra’s debut project – a collaborative album with the Phil Meadows Group titled Lifecycles. The record featured 13 improvising string players, woodwind, brass, harp and vocals alongside Meadow’s jazz quintet. The result – an exciting suite of new music fusing highly scored soaring melodies with freewheeling spontaneity. Launching with a sell-out headline gig at the 2014 EFG London Jazz Festival, the Engines Orchestra has since gone from strength to strength and was awarded 2015 Parliamentary Jazz Ensemble of the Year and performed to a sold-out Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and Scarborough Jazz Festival. Lifecycles has received praise from The Guardian, Jazzwise, TimeOut and All About Jazz as well as extensive airplay across BBC Radio 2, 3 and JazzFM. Today the Engines Orchestra HQ is a hive of activity, working with artists from all backgrounds to produce cutting-edge, original music for everybody to enjoy. As our community grows we aspire to be the UK’s leading creative ensemble, bringing our work to international audiences and providing an opportunity for people from all over the world to get involved.
