Upcoming Concerts

Dan-Iulian Druțac – violin

Jure Smirnov Oštir – violin

Emily Newman-Pond – viola

Mike Newman – cello

Ben du Toit – double bass

Meera Maharaj – flute

Laura Roberts-Campbell – oboe

Joel Roberts – horn

Steph Yim – clarinet

Hugh Woolley – bassoon

Born out of a love of chamber music, the Manchester-based Meliora Collective strives to celebrate the shared joy of music making, both with audiences and amongst themselves. Founding members, Meera and Steph dreamt up this ensemble in the midst of the pandemic, following many years of friendship and a long-held desire to launch a flexi ensemble of this nature.

The versatility afforded by their set-up - consisting of five string and five wind players - allows for intriguing programming, spanning a range of styles and incorporating concert favourites alongside less familiar but equally enchanting repertoire. Meliora Collective enjoys presenting highly inventive arrangements, ranging from Mendelssohn to Tchaikovsky. This year, they received an award from the Oleg Prokofiev Trust, as well as an RVW Trust award to fund a new commission by award-winning composer, Rafael Marino Arcaro.

As recent graduates of conservatoires including the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Royal Northern College of Music, each of the musicians brings a strong musical identity to the ensemble. The ethos of shared responsibility and collaborative music making is integral to the ensemble.