News and reviews from one of the country's most versatile and engaging string chamber ensembles.
MenuPerformance News and Events
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.
Country Classics
Symphonia Academica continues its 2026/27 concerts with a programme of music for string sextet.
The concert features Tchaikovsky's romantic postcard of Italy, Souvenir de Florence, and Richard Strauss' Prelude to Capriccio.
Symphonia Academica is pleased to be returning to perform in the beautiful medieval church of St Mary's in Redbourn.
One hour concert
Comfortable seating
Complimentary refreshments
Retiring collection in aid of the St Luke's SEND School Farm in Redbourn.
With limited seating please reserve your space by emailing bussereau@icloud.com
Brandenburg Plus
Symphonia Academica is excited to be opening its 2026/27 season with its Brandenburg Plus concert in the tranquil rural setting of Barton le Clay.
The concert includes Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No4 featuring the stunning playing of recorder players Georgina Murphy and Celia Ireland and violinist Chereene Price.
Also on the musical menu are Handel's Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, Mozart's Divertimento in D K136 and Bach's Violin Concerto in E featuring the Symphonia Academica's artistic director Peter Bussereau.
One hour concert
Comfortable seating
On site parking
Complimentary refreshments
£10 in aid of the Luton Foodbank.
To reserve a space please email bussereau@icloud.com
Cool Classics in the round!
Violinist Peter Bussereau and cellist Jacqueline Phillips return to Barton le Clay for some cool classics in the round.
Ravel, Ferguson and Morley un the stunning setting of Downing URC in Cambridge!
Violinist Peter Bussereau and pianist Yukiko Osedo performed violin sonatas by Ravel and Howard Ferguson together with Angel Morley's romantic miniature Reverie and all in the amazing setting of Cambridge's Downing Place URC.
Symphonia Academica's Artistic Director performs Beethoven's monumental violin concerto!
Symphonia Academica's Artistic Director, Peter Bussereau, performed Beethoven's monumental violin concerto with his friends from the Hitchin Symphony Orchestra under their conductor Rowan Baker.
The concerto, dating from 1806, explores the depths of Beethoven's mind and compositional mastery requiring a sympathetic collaboration of soloist and orchestra-something Peter very much enjoyed experiencing in this concert.
Dvorak, Reger, Kodaly and Taneyev in the round!
Violinists Chereene Price and Peter Bussereau with violist Judit Kelemen from Symphonia Academica performed in the round at the SA's country home of Barton le Clay in the heart of rural Bedfordshire.
The enthusiastic audience very much enjoyed being closer to the music and the performers-something we hope to repeat very soon!
Les Quatre Violons at Bedford's glorious St Paul's Church!
The four violinists of Les Quatre Violons, Peter Bussereau, Teresa Pople, Caroline Waters and Alex Collins, performed their program of music by Telemann, Dont, Bacewicz and Peter Martin to a large and welcoming audience in the magnificent setting of St Paul's Bedford.
Symphonia Academica's concert at Whipperley Infants School, Luton
Symphonia Academica's artistic director, Peter Bussereau, and cellist, Jacqueline Phillips, performed to some amazingly attentive 200 pupils and staff.
Music ranging from Saint Saens' Elephant to Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending were interspersed with questions, all enthusiastically answered by the pupils. And exit music of Pirates of the Caribbean!
Ravel, Morley and Ferguson at Welwyn Garden City's Friends Music!
Symphonia Academica's artistic director, Peter Bussereau, and pianist Yukiko Osedo performed Ravel's ravishing violin sonata, Howard Ferguson's powerful sonata of 1946 and Angela Morley's romantic miniature Reverie for Friends Music in Welwyn Garden City.
The duo very much liked returning to perform for this warm and friendly audience whose generosity raised £400 for the Luton Foodbank!
Sonorous sextet perform Tchaikovsky and Richard Strauss!
Members of Symphonia Academica, Peter Bussereau and Chereene Price, violins, Marcus Broome, viola and Julian Metzger, cello, together with SA's friends, Nick Evans-Pughe, viola, and Caroline Ridout, cello, performed Richards Strauss' serene Prelude to Capriccio and Tchaikovsky's evocative Souvenir de Florence.
The ensemble enjoyed performing to the appreciative capacity audience in their musical home in Barton le Clay.
Proceeds of £750 were donated to the Luton Foodbank to help with their wonderful work.
Virtuoso music for two cellos in Redbourn, Hertfordshire
Our two amazing cellists, Jacqueline Phillips and Julian Metzger, performed ranging from pieces by Klengel and Paganini to operatic arias arranged for two cellos by Mozart, Rossini and Bizet and even including music from Pirates of the Caribbean!
And all in the stunning surroundings of the medieval church of St Mary's in Redbourn
Les Quatre Violons at Ampthill Recitals
Les Quatre Violons, members of Symphonia Academica, performed to a capacity audience in the beautiful Ampthill Methodist Church.
Violinists Teresa Pople, Caroline Waters, Alex Collins and Peter Bussereau performed music by Telemann, Dont, Bacewicz and Peter Martin.
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.