Orpheus Sinfonia Commissions New Works from Three Female Composers

Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Roxanna Panufnik, and Sally Beamish will have their works performed over the next three years

The UK's Orpheus Sinfonia, a small ensemble that focuses on the intersections between performance, outreach work, and community interaction, has recently announced that it will commission major works from three female composers, with one piece being premiered each year.

The works will be played by members of the Sinfonia's Foundation Program, which offers professional experience to instrumentalists, conductors, composers, and opera singers who have recently graduated. They receive a year's worth of performances and development sessions, and are mentored by Orpheus Principal players.

The first new work is Cheryl Frances-Hoad's Three Mathematical Diversions, which, alongside the Foundation players, will also feature saxophonist Jonathan Radford. The concert, which also includes the premiere of a work by Foundation composer Miles Walter, will take place at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London, on June 26, 2025, and will be conducted by Thomas Carroll.

Two further premieres will follow over the next two years. In 2026, the ensemble will perform a work by Roxanna Panufnik. The piece will also feature cellist Jonathan Swensen, a recent winner of the Windsor Festival International String Competition.

The final work, by Sally Beamish, will receive its premiere in 2027, and there will be a prominent role in it for the winner of the next edition of the Windsor Competition.

"This ambitious multi-year commissioning program is at the very heart of Orpheus Sinfonia's vision to shape the future of classical music," said Rosie Taylor, CEO of Orpheus Sinfonia. "By championing the extraordinary talent of British female composers and collaborating with exceptional international emerging soloists from the Windsor Festival International String Competition, we are not only enriching the repertoire but also providing unparalleled opportunities for the next generation of musical innovators and performers through our Foundation Program."

"This initiative reinforces our commitment to bringing the very best in upcoming and new music to London audiences and beyond. We are incredibly grateful for the support that has enabled this."