The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio
This chamber ensemble is dedicated to showcasing the fascinating but rarely-performed basset horn.
A wooden, single reed wind instrument, closely related to the clarinet, the basset horn was mostly heard in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Austria and Germany, with historical evidence dating the earliest known instruments to the 1760’s.
When Czech musicians Messrs Dworschak, David, and Springer came to London in 1790 and performed at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens as a Basset Horn Trio, the instrument was relatively new to London. These mysterious and unusual sounding instruments, with their colourful, earthy tones, created great interest.
We’ll be exploring Dworschack, David and Springer’s connections to composers in 1780’s Vienna in our 2026 debut recording with the Deux-Elles record label. Find out more here.
Katherine Spencer
Katherine ‘Waffy’ Spencer, the newly appointed principal clarinet of the Handel and Haydn Society, is also the principal of The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, Gabrieli Consort and Players, The Irish Chamber Orchestra, and the City of London Sinfonia.
The New York Times says Katherine delivers “a knockout performance”, Opera Wire said her performance with the Handel and Haydn Society “was so exquisite her solo should have been repeated as an encore”.
Sarah Thurlow
Sarah Thurlow was born in Bromley, Kent, and studied at the Royal College of Music in London with Robert Hill and Michael Harris, performing concertos with the Philharmonia and BBC Concert Orchestra whilst still a student.
Sarah has performed more than fifty recitals for music clubs and societies in the UK with pianist Nigel Clayton, with whom she has appeared at the Purcell Room, St John’s Smith Square, and Bridgewater Hall. Sarah now works as an orchestral clarinettist, including with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
Fiona Mitchell
Fiona Mitchell was awarded a Masters degree from the Royal Academy of Music in 2010, having already completed her undergraduate studies at the Royal College of Music. She now pursues a busy professional career, performing in orchestras, playing in chamber groups and teaching.
In 2009 Fiona started playing with Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s period orchestras, the English Baroque Soloists and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique. This has led her to perform in some of the leading concert venues around the world including Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall.
Gallery
Previous Events
Salon Music Supper Concerts, Highgate, London
Highgate, London. www.salonmusic.co.uk
8th April 2024 and 6th July 2025.
Masterclass
With the clarinet students at the Royal Academy of Music. 19th February 2024
Masterclass
With the historical performance and modern clarinet students. Royal College of Music Museum, 16th October 2023
Inaugural Concert Tour – Summer 2023
20th July 2023 – Lewes Baroquefest
4th August 2023 – St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh
6th August 2023 – Saint Anne’s Church, Kew
9th September 2023 – Tea House Theatre, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens
For further information about The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio and to enquire about booking them for a chamber music concert or a masterclass please contact Artistic Director Laura Piras here