Introducing the performers…

Chris Windass (violin)
Vanessa McNaught (viola)
Jane Fenton (cello)

Formed in 1986 by a group of the UK’s finest young freelance musicians, the Adderbury Ensemble have always had a flexible line-up, mixing and matching different players to deliver performances primarily as quartets, quintets or small chamber groups and occasionally adding further instruments to play symphonies and concertos by the likes of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn or Brahms – with or without a conductor.

Everyone who performs as part of the Adderbury Ensemble is an eminent instrumentalist, usually a principal player with one or more of the leading orchestras of Europe. From their early years playing Sunday evening concerts in the beautiful village of Adderbury in north Oxfordshire, the group have gone on to develop a global reputation. They perform regularly throughout Britain and other European nations, and played their first concerts in the United States in Spring 2016. They also helped found the world-famous Oxford Coffee Concerts at the Holywell Music Room, the oldest purpose-built music venue in Europe.

The Adderbury Ensemble have released ten recordings in their own right since their first CD was released in 1997, and individual members have recorded many more, either as soloists or as members of other groups.

Click here for more information.

Julian Sperry (flute)

Julian Sperry began his musical education at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. From there he was awarded a scholarship to the Paris Conservatoire where he studied under Alain Marion and Raymond Guiot.

Julian is principal flute with Glyndebourne Touring Opera and has made guest appearances with orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony, Welsh National Opera and the Royal Philharmonic. He has been a frequent guest principal with the London Symphony Orchestra, who invited him on its tours of America, Japan and Austria. He has worked with conductors such as Haitink, Tilson-Thomas, Zweden, Hickox, Vasary and Norrington.

The winner of numerous competitions and awards, Julian has played for Radio-France, Classic FM and BBC radio, and performed concertos and recitals for television and radio in Britain and the USA. He has been performing and recording with the Adderbury Ensemble for over 20 years.

Click here for more information.

Alun Darbyshire (oboe)

Alun Darbyshire studied at the Royal College of Music with Michael Winfield and in Freiburg, Germany with Heinz Holliger. He now enjoys a varied career combining solo, chamber and orchestral playing.

Alun is principal oboe with Glyndebourne on Tour and Garsington Opera, and has performed as guest principal oboe with many leading orchestras including The Philharmonia, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and Academy of St Martin in the Fields. As a soloist, Alun has broadcast extensively on BBC Radio 3, including the Young Artists Forum and a performance of the Mozart and Britten oboe quartets with the Ovid Ensemble.

Alun appears regularly with the Adderbury Ensemble and together they have recorded concertos by Albinoni, Marcello and Mozart. He has also performed concertos with the London Festival Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic and Northern Chamber Orchestra, and as a chamber musician has appeared at the Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and at various festivals.

Click here for more information.