Hebrides Ensemble, based in Scotland, is a collective of world-class musicians from the UK and Europe, renowned for its quality of performance and diversity of repertoire presented in highly imaginative programmes. Flexibility is key with repertoire encompassing a wide range of styles in chamber music, music theatre and chamber opera. Co-founded and led by its artistic director, the cellist and conductor William Conway, the Ensemble has an impressive list of specially commissioned works (over 70 since its inception in 1991), highlighting its commitment to new music and support of contemporary composers. Most of the commissions have come from Scottish or Scottish-based composers, including Sir Peter Maxwell-Davies, Sally Beamish, Lyell Cresswell, Haflidi Halgrimsson, John McLeod, William Sweeney, David Horne, Stuart MacRae, Helen Grime, Martin Suckling and, James MacMillan, whose ‘Since is was the day of preparation…’ was premièred at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2012 and received it’s European première in the Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam early in 2013. The Ensemble tours frequently to venues and other festivals throughout the UK and recent appearances include Edinburgh International Festival, St Magnus Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Bath International Festival, Kings Place and Wigmore Hall, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Perth and Aberdeen.
