News and reviews from one of the country's most versatile and engaging string chamber ensembles.
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Our ensemble is committed to performing innovative and eclectic programmes of classical music to music lovers frequently in community settings. Details of our concerts can be found here and on our Facebook page.
Our own Pop-Up Classics series concerts in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire area often appear with just a few weeks' notice. After these one hour concerts the performers enjoy the opportunity to chat informally with the audience during post-concert refreshments.
Any additional information can be obtained by contacting us through our contact section.
Letchworth concert a sell out!
Our concert for Letchworth Music on the 24th January was a sell out-with more chairs being added as the concert began.
We would like to thank Letchworth Music and their warm audience-it was a delight to perform for them that afternoon in the beautiful sunshine. We look forward to returning before too long.
Symphonia Academica return to Friends Music Welwyn Garden City!
Violinist Peter Bussereau and pianist Yukiko Osedo return to Friends Music in Welwyn Garden City for a one hour concert. Their programme will include the sonatas by Maurice Ravel and Howard Ferguson.
The sonata by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) displays his love for colour and exoticism. Composed between 1923 and 1927, the sonata opens with a simple and transparent texture, the second movement is heavily influenced by jazz and the blues and the third is a riveting moto perpetuo.
The sonata by Howard Ferguson (1908-1999) is rarely played but is an unknown gem. The work dates from 1946 and has all the drive and verve of works dating from the post war period. Interweaving melody, rhythmic drive and harmonic colour we hope our audience will enjoy hearing this piece.Tchaikovsky and Richard Strauss! Barton le Clay, Sunday 15 February 2026 3pm
Symphonia Academica and friends perform Richard Strauss' serene prelude to his opera Capriccio and Tchaikovsky's glorious Souvenir de Florence. A one-hour concert in aid of the Luton Foodbank.
One hour concert
On site parking
Comfortable seating
Complimentary refreshments
To reserve you space email bussereau@icloud.com
UPDATE: Our generous audience meant that we were able to give the Luton Foodbank £750 (including gift aid) following this concert!Two Virtuoso Cellos in Redbourn! Sunday 8 February 2026 3pm
Symphonia Academica returns to the beautiful medieval church of St Mary's in Redbourn with a programme of music performed by the ensemble's virtuoso cellists, Jacqueline Phillips and Julian Metzger,
Their one hour programme of music will include arrangements of operatic arias by Puccini, Mozart and Bizet together with Klengel's breathtaking Suite, Paganini's fiendish 24th Caprice and music from the film Pirates of the Caribbean.
One hour concert
Retiring collection
Comfortable seating
Complimentary refreshments
To reserve a space email bussereau@icloud.com24 January 2026 Symphonia Academica at Letchworth Music
Symphonia Academica is pleased to be returning to Letchworth Music.
Violinist Peter Bussereau, violist Judit Kelemen and cellist Jacqueline Phillips perform a one hour concert of music by Bach, Schubert, Beethoven and Francaix.
One hour concert
Beautiful Grade II listed Arts and Crafts venue
Tea and cakes served after the concertMonday 10 November 2025 - 1pm Downing Place URC, Cambridge, CB2 3EL
Retiring collection
Symphonia Academica returns to the magnificent Downing Place URC in central Cambridge following their warmly received debut in the Downing Place concert series in January.
Violinist Peter Bussereau and cellist Jacqueline Phillips will be performing Mozart's Duo in B flat K424, an arrangement of Saint Saens' Danse Macabre and music by Kodaly and Ravel.
For more information go to https://downingplaceurc.orgSunday 21 September 2025 - 3pm St Nicholas' Church Hall, Barton le Clay, MK45 4LA
Tickets: £10
Symphonia Academica presents a programme of music for two cellos, with arrangements of arias by Bizet and Mozart, the infamous 24th Caprice by Paganini and Klengel's engaging Suite for Two Cellos.
Set in the tranquil heart of rural Bedfordshire, this one-hour concert will be followed by complimentary refreshments. The hall offers comfortable seating and on-site parking and is situated at the rear of the beautiful medieval church of St Nicholas.
Please reserve your place by emailing bussereau@icloud.comSaturday 13 September 2025 - 3pm St Mary's Church, Redbourn, AL3 7NL
Retiring collection
Symphonia Academica opens its 25/26 season of concerts with music for string trio performed in the tranquil setting of the medieval church of St Mary's Redbourn in Hertfordshire.
The one-hour concert will feature Schubert's Trio Movement, extracts from Bach's Goldberg Variations, the string trio by Jean Françaix together with Beethoven's Eyeglass Duo for viola and cello.
The one-hour concert will be followed by refreshments. The performance area in the chancel offers comfortable seating but is limited in numbers so please reserve your space by emailing bussereau@icloud.com
Retiring collection: A collection of donations from people as they leave an event, typically for a charity or to cover the expenses of performers or speakers at the event itself.