Peace in Our Time: Andrew Wainwright’s new work and children’s musical interludes convey hopes for peace

Karl Jenkins’s large-scale choral work, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, continues to move audiences with its timeless message of hope, humanity and reconciliation.  It’s a powerful work that Armonico Consort has performed with many hundreds of young people over the years to poignant and memorable effect. In November, the historic and sacred spaces

Read more

WATCH: James May and Oz Clarke lead Armonico Consort’s charity bike challenge

TV celebrities (and former choristers) James May and Oz Clarke generously gave their time to lead Armonico Consort’s 2025 charity bike challenge, and we can’t thank them enough. We’ve created a short film showing the sensational team as they spent three days on the bikes, bursting into song in pubs and cafes, bringing joy to

Read more

Armonico Consort Scholar Maame’s Cambridge Music Scholarship Dreams

Members of The Rotary Club of Coventry enjoyed a superlative singing treat at their September meeting from Maame, one of Armonico Consort’s AC Academy Scholars. “We were blessed to have Armonico back in the form of Maame to sing so beautifully for us.  She is a huge talent and it has been a privilege to

Read more

A helmet for Beowulf – NP Aerospace inspires creative schools’ project

The epic Anglo-Saxon poem, Beowulf, has inspired artists for centuries, including the composer Toby Young who was commissioned by Armonico Consort to write a musical work for children in 2017. And in the lead up to a performance of the work at Warwick Hall, Warwick School on 15 July 2025, children from four Coventry and

Read more

Rayburn Tours and Armonico Consort nurture young talent across the UK

Rayburn Tours’ collaboration with Armonico Consort’s AC Academy is reaping dividends.  Here they update on a recent concert highlight, and we hear what being an Armonico Consort Senior Scholar means to Angus, and to Rayburn Tours’ Chairman John Boyden and his wife Brenda who sponsor him. Rayburn Tours writes: Warwick-based choir and music charity Armonico Consort founded

Read more

Where to catch James May & Oz Clarke this September

Pop-up performances with TV legends James May & Oz Clarke have been announced in September as the celebrity duo front Armonico Consort’s 3-day Charity Bike Challenge (10-12 September). The pair are teaming up with Armonico’s sensational singing cyclists on a musical adventure to raise funds for the charity’s vital community singing projects that bring music

Read more

James May & Oz Clarke charity concerts announced

We’re thrilled that TV legend James May will be swapping horsepower for pedal power to front Armonico Consort’s charity bike challenge (10-12 September 2025) along with his old pal and partner-in-wine Oz Clarke. The pair are going back to their musical roots and teaming up with Armonico Consort’s sensational singing cyclists to raise funds for

Read more

Armonico Consort turns 25!

CELEBRATE OUR SILVER ANNIVERSARY WITH US! For 24 years people who have simply fallen in love with what we do – individuals and businesses alike – have supported Armonico Consort concerts.  Looking ahead to our 25th anniversary in 2026, we are now calling for more people who love our music to sponsor our silver anniversary

Read more

Patrons gather for Armonico’s Membership re-launch

Patrons, friends and supporters of Armonico Consort gathered at Malvern Theatres on Friday (6 December) at a performance of Handel’s Messiah, to join in the re-launch of our Membership scheme. Armonico’s President Roger Medwell MBE DL, members of the Development team, and volunteers Elizabeth and Lawrence, were on hand to talk to audience members about

Read more

Armonico Scholar Anna wins BBC Chorister of the Year

Armonico Consort Scholar Anna is celebrating after winning the coveted BBC Chorister of the Year 2024 Junior title.  The competition was broadcast on BBC TV’s Songs of Praise on 1 December, hosted by Aled Jones and Reverend Kate Bottley. 13-year old Anna, from Stratford-upon-Avon, joined AC Academy Warwick (Armonico Consort’s after-school choir) on her 6th birthday …  

Read more

New Solihull Memory Singers for people living with dementia launches

Following the success of Warwick Memory Singers, Armonico Consort is delighted to announce the launch of its second community choir for people living with dementia and their carers. Solihull Memory Singers launches on Thursday 16 January 2025 and will meet fortnightly at The Onward Club, 107 Helmswood Drive, Chelmsley Wood, B37 7NS. Led by Armonico’s

Read more

James May & Oz Clarke reunite to support charity’s community music projects

TV celebrities Oz Clarke and James May reunited in support of Warwick-based music charity Armonico Consort’s outreach, education and community music projects. The ‘Oz & James’s Big Wine Adventure’ stars joined Armonico’s cycling musicians for a three-day fundraising tour last week (15-17 October) giving pop-up performances in pubs and cafés in and around the Warwick

Read more

Care home residents enjoy mini concert from Oz Clarke and cycling musicians

Musicians from the music charity Armonico Consort, sang and played for residents at River Meadows Care Centre, Warwickshire, Marston Court care home, Oxford (for residents of Marston Court and Isis House care homes), Meadowcroft, Thame, Dementia Action day centre, Marlow, Eton College – for residents of St Mark’s care home, Windsor, St Giles’s View Care Home, Winchester, Hartwood House, Lyndhurst, Lighthouse, Poole (for residents of Kingland House), The Lindsay, and The Links care homes, from the 10th to the 13th of September 2024, alongside TV presenter, wine expert and singer Oz Clarke.

Read more

Oz & Armonico Cycle and Sing for Dementia

Oz & Armonico Cycle & Sing for Dementia hits the road on Tuesday 10 September on its sixth epic charity bike challenge to raise £20,000 for singing projects for people living with dementia. TV personality, wine writer and all round super supporter Oz Clarke again heads up the 4 day ride.  The singing cyclists will

Read more

Children with special educational needs steal the Royal Albert Hall show

Excitement overflowed at the Royal Albert Hall last week as children from Special Schools in Coventry performed their own newly-penned song to an audience of 5000 people. The youngsters from Baginton Fields Academy and Sherbourne Fields School, all of whom have moderate to profound special educational needs, performed their piece …

Read more

Encore Appeal Final Update: We’re Climbing Snowdon!

After a fantastic final Encore Appeal push, Armonico Consort’s Christopher Monks confirms he (together with President Roger Medwell DL MBE and professional musicians) will climb Snowdon, carrying his keyboard on his back!

Read more

Encore Appeal Update 4: Here’s what you’ve achieved

A message from Christopher Monks, Artistic Director of Armonico Consort: Dear Friends.  I’m sure you’ve been waiting with bated breath to hear about the grand finale of our Encore Appeal.  But first, I want to say a huge personal thank you to each one of you – Patrons,  volunteers, businesses, charitable trusts and foundations and

Read more

Auction raises over £14K for Encore Appeal

Armonico Consort hosted a fantastic ‘Once in a Lifetime’ auction on the 15th November, raising a huge £14,662 towards our Encore Appeal, which has been funding our core educational and community activities in 2023. The event was attended by 70 people and was led by Griffin’s Auctioneers and Valuers …

Read more

Encore Appeal Update 3: A Heartwarming Journey

Armonico Consort’s Encore Appeal is proving to be a remarkable and heartwarming journey. Thanks to your incredible generosity,  we have raised the outstanding sum of £219,096 so far towards our target of £300,000. 

Read more

Armonico Consort launches once in a lifetime auction to support The Encore Appeal

Over 30 once-in-a-lifetime experiences and unique pieces, from music and culture to sport and heritage, will go under the hammer on Wednesday 15 November 2023 as part of Armonico Consort’s Encore Appeal. Among the incredible prizes is the chance to meet a prog rock legend, have a music concert in your own home, enjoy a wine tasting with a TV celebrity …

Read more

Oz & Armonico Bike Challenge 2023 smashes £20K target

After 4 days cycling in a heatwave, 200 miles in the saddle, and mini concerts at 7 care homes, we are thrilled to announce that ‘Oz & Armonico’s Bike Challenge 2023 – The Encore Tour’, has smashed our £20,000 fundraising target. Thanks to your generosity we have raised £22,086.88 to help us fund vital new

Read more

Encore Appeal Update 2: Here’s how you’re helping

We have been so encouraged by the huge number of donations since launching our £300K Encore Appeal in December.  Thanks to our fabulous supporters, we’ve now reached £120,162 in this second quarter.  This includes our President, Mr Roger Medwell’s generous contribution of 30p for every £1 raised, making your money go even further. “Your support

Read more

Oz & Armonico ride again for the Encore Appeal

For the fifth successive year, TV presenter, wine expert and singer, Oz Clarke, leads Armonico Consort’s team of intrepid cyclists in a challenging, four-day bike tour. Their aim is to raise £20,000 to help fund Memory Singers choirs for people living with dementia and their carers.

Read more

Armonico Scholar Nefeli’s royal day out

A talented 17-year old singer had the day of a lifetime when she attended the Coronation of TM King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May. Nefeli Terzopoulou is an AC Academy Scholar with the choir and music charity Armonico Consort.  Her scholarship is funded by the Prince of Wales’s

Read more

The Forgotten Scarlatti: Armonico Consort’s new recording of Francesco Scarlatti choral works

Armonico Consort’s latest recording is a rediscovery of two brilliant choral masterpieces by a forgotten Baroque composer, Francesco Scarlatti, in brand-new authoritative editions by Dr Geoffrey Webber. Artistic Director Christopher Monks directs the composer’s Dixit Dominus and Messa a 16 – “the most spectacular classical music find of the century”.

Read more

Encore Appeal Update: £81K raised already for vital music projects

Thanks to our fabulous supporters, Armonico Consort’s £300K Encore Appeal has raised over £81,368 in the first four months and is on the way to reaching £150K by June. Find out how we’re creating school choirs, singing sessions for people living with dementia and projects for children with SEN.

Read more

Roger Medwell pledges thousands in Encore Appeal match funding

Well-known Coventry businessman and Armonico Consort president, Roger Medwell MBE DL has made an extraordinarily generous gesture in support of our £300K Encore Appeal to provide singing projects benefiting more than 17,000 people across Warwickshire, Coventry, Solihull and Worcestershire. 

Read more

Oz & Armonico bike challenge in pictures

Thank you so much to everyone who donated to this year’s 200 mile bike challenge.  We smashed our £10K target and have raised over £14,300 to support our Memory Singers projects in care homes and in the community. We’ve collected a few highlights together …

Read more