News

What is it that persuades wine writer and broadcaster Oz Clarke and Armonico Consort’s team of musicians and supporters, to come back for a fourth year of aching legs and saddle sores?!  Yes, Oz & Armonico are back on the road in September, cycling 200 miles over four days, giving mini-concerts in care homes, and aiming to raise £10,000 for Armonico’s ‘Memory Singers’ projects which bring the power of music to people living with dementia. 

Music is incredible.  It has the power to help overcome isolation, reduce stress, make you feel happier and offer a host of other mental and physical well-being benefits.  Plus, it’s huge fun! Armonico Consort has long been a believer in music as ‘human medicine’, and the recent Power of Music report reinforces just how much

Our AC Academy Scholars had the honour of singing for HRH The Princess Royal when she visited Warwick on 5 November to celebrate the work of local charities and organisations.  The Scholars, representing Armonico Consort, were among several charities and children from local primary schools who gathered at Warwick School for the event.   

For Armonico Consort’s 20th anniversary, Oz & Armonico’s Great Bike Adventure sets off on 11 September, touring Warwickshire on a massive fundraising effort for the Warwick Memory Singers. The third Great Bike Adventure may be a little shorter than the two previous years,  but the cyclists have more than a few hills to contend with …

And we’re off! Armonico Consort is 20 and we’re planning to celebrate like any 20-year-old would!  There’ll be special events, new commissions, birthday concerts, parties, exciting initiatives and plenty of collective reminiscences.

We’re on the hunt for warm, empathetic and enthusiastic volunteers to help Armonico Consort run our latest project – Warwick Memory Singers, a community choir in Warwick for people living with dementia and their carers.

In the second of our short series of interviews with our fabulous freelance musicians, we chat to King’s Singer Edward Button who has been involved in several of Armonico Consort’s new streamed concerts featuring some of our favourite early music repertoire, from Byrd to Bach.

The recent launch of our streamed concerts On Demand has not only brought enjoyment to our audiences, but valuable work for our fabulous freelance musicians. A full year after concert-giving came to a shuddering halt, we’ve been asking some of them what life has been like.

Armonico Consort is launching a brand new series of streamed concerts to enjoy at home, anywhere in the world, with a collection of filmed performances released from Monday 8 March 2021. Conducted by Artistic Director, Christopher Monks, the concerts have been beautifully filmed and feature some of the critically-acclaimed choir’s favourite early music repertoire.

WATCH VIDEO: Christopher Monks looks forward to Armonico Consort’s 20th anniversary We’ll be celebrating in style as any 20-year old would! Do keep in touch and join the party. A Happy New Year to all our friends and supporters.  2021 is a particularly exciting one for Armonico Consort as we celebrate our 20th anniversary. Artistic Director,

Hilary Eldridge first came across Armonico Consort thanks to Dame Emma Kirkby and has been a loyal friend and supporter ever since, most recently enabling us to put on our first post-lockdown concert, Dido and Aeneas.  Our Relationship Manager, Patrons and Sponsors, Eva Williams, chatted to the Conductor’s Circle member. 

Conductor’s Circle member, David Phillips MBE, has a passion for music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras and for running marathons – 500 of them! Our Relationship Manager, Patrons and Sponsors, Eva Williams, chatted to the Kenilworth-based accountant about his 19-year involvement with Armonico Consort and the personal fundraising projects that have earned him the MBE.

For our final flourish of the summer term, we’re waving goodbye to lockdown with ‘Armonico Consort’s Unlocked Festival’ (15-17 July).  Join us for three fabulous days of live recorded concerts, interviews, singing workshops, musical recollections, a virtual choir and more, all via Facebook and YouTube.

We are delighted to announce the first of a new series of live, recorded concerts – Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas – and look forward to a mini festival from 15-17 July.

Never one to shy away from a crafty pint, our Artistic Director Christopher Monks has rounded up some of the wonderful world class artists Armonico Consort frequently works with and chats to them over a beer (or beverage of their choice).

The final part of their Kenya Diary from March sees Christopher Monks and Toby Young lead a workshop at a Maasai school, join the incredible Juakali Drummers, and visit a haven for girls caught up in drugs and prostitution.  Along the way, they attempt to the learn the drums and are made honorary Maasai warriors

In the second of a three-part diary of their Choir Creation visit to Kenya, Christopher Monks and Toby Young experience two very contrasting situations – the first a centre for young boys rescued from the street, many of whom were orphans. The second, a school set in the middle of nowhere, almost tribal, and their first experience of the Kenyan Maasai heritage.  

In Kenya, singing and culture is at the heart of the education system but there is little support and training.  In an action-packed visit in March, Artistic Director, Christopher Monks, and Composer in Residence, Toby Young, piloted a choir creation programme, learned songs and music, became honorary Maasai warriors and made an emergency evacuation before coronavirus lockdown. 

An update from our Artistic Director, Christopher Monks on short-term changes to re-focus Armonico Consort’s work to deliver some of our most valuable projects – our tried-and-tested singing workshops – in schools and care homes where they are most needed, and to create an emergency fund to support our freelance musicians.