‘Britain’s music scene offers numerous dynamic small-sized groups, but The Hermes Experiment so spellbinding, so imaginative, continue to stand alone’ - The Times

Winners of the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award 2021 and the Royal Over-Seas League Mixed Ensemble Competition 2019, The Hermes Experiment is one of the UK’s leading young contemporary music ensembles. Capitalising on their deliberately idiosyncratic combination of instruments (harp, clarinet, voice and double bass), The Hermes Experiment regularly commissions new works, as well as creating their own innovative arrangements and venturing into live free improvisation. They have commissioned over 60 composers at various stages of their careers. They have released two albums on Delphian Records - HERE WE ARE and SONG - both to critical acclaim.

Recent highlights include performances at Barbican Centre, Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Aldeburgh Festival, Oxford International Song Festival, Leeds Lieder Festival, Rotterdam’s De Doelen, Tallinn Music Week, Spitalfields Festival and the RPS Awards.

The ensemble is also dedicated to the value of contemporary music in education and community contexts. In 2021, they ran a Virtual Composition Project, supported by Arts Council England. They were ensemble in residence for the Young Music Makers of Dyfed 2018-19, and as part of their fifth birthday project they ran composition workshops in state schools in and around London.

The Hermes Experiment is hugely grateful to the Marchus Trust for their generous support throughout 2023-2026.

The Hermes Experiment
Anne Denholm, harp
Oliver Pashley, clarinet
Héloïse Werner, soprano
Marianne Schofield, double bass

Programme:
- Josephine Stephenson - tanka
- Fergus Hall - New commission (supported by the Royal Philharmonic Society)
- Sylvia Lim, Kite (Dymchurch)
- Mira Calix, DMe
- Nwando Ebizie - New commission (supported by the Marchus Trust)
- Elaine Mitchener - the/e so/ou/nd be/t/ween
- Meredith Monk (arr. Denholm) - Double Fiesta