The Hermes Experiment

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  • Ensemble

About The Hermes Experiment

Anne Denholm-Blair, harp Oliver Pashley, clarinet Marianne Schofield, double bass Héloïse Werner, soprano

The Hermes Experiment is one of the UK’s leading young contemporary music ensembles. Winners of the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award 2021 and the Royal Over-Seas League Mixed Ensemble Competition 2019, the group has rapidly built a reputation for vibrant, genre-defying performances.

Described by The Arts Desk as "the cool kids of the contemporary music school", The Hermes Experiment reimagine the concert experience with their idiosyncratic line-up of harp, clarinet, voice and double bass. Their collaborative ethos drives a dynamic programme of over 60 new commissions to date, alongside bold arrangements and electrifying free improvisation.

They have released two critically acclaimed albums on Delphian Records – HERE WE ARE and SONG – with their third album TREE due for release in October 2025.

Performance highlights include Barbican Centre, Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Spitalfields, Oxford International Song, Leeds Lieder, and Aldeburgh Festivals, as well as Tallinn Music Week, Rotterdam’s De Doelen, and the RPS Awards. They were a showcase artist at Classical:NEXT 2019.

The ensemble champions contemporary music in education and community settings. Recent projects include their Virtual Composition Project supported by Arts Council England, a residency with Young Music Makers of Dyfed, and workshops with Trinity Laban, RAM, RCM, RWCMD, Leeds College of Music and Birmingham University.

The Hermes Experiment is based in London.

Contact

Megan Steller

Megan Steller

Associate Artist Manager
Ivo Ivanov

Ivo Ivanov

Assistant Artist Manager

Representation

Worldwide general management with Askonas Holt

Follow The Hermes Experiment

Season Highlights

Apr 2025
Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth
Portsmouth Chamber Music – Sound of Now Guildhall, Portsmouth, 7.30pm Lisa Robertson, new work (commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society) Cécile Chaminade (arr. Schofield), La Lune paresseuse Tom Coult, I Find Planets Caroline Shaw (arr. Denholm), Plan & Elevation: I. The Ellipse Laura Moody, Rilke Songs Soosan Lolavar, Mâh Didam Anna Meredith (arr. Schofield), Fin like a flower Lili Boulanger (arr. Schofield), Reflets Kerry Andrew (arr. Denholm), Fruit Songs (selected movements) Errollyn Wallen (arr. Werner), Tree Hannah Peel (arr. Pashley), The Almond Tree Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree
Jun 2025
Dublin International Chamber Music Festival, Dublin
Dublin International Chamber Music Festival Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle, 7.30pm Barbara Strozzi (arr Werner), Tradimento Anna Meredith (arr Schofield), Fin like a Flower Clara Schumann (arr Pashley), Liebst du um Schönheit Lili Boulanger (arr Pashley), Prelude in D-flat Lili Boulanger (arr Schofield), Reflets and Attente Lisa Robertson, an sgaireag: she screams Laura Moody, Rilke Songs Errollyn Wallen (arr Werner), Tree Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree Hannah Peel (arr Pashley), The Almond Tree Caroline Shaw (arr Denholm), The Ellipse from Plan & Elevation Abel Selaocoe (arr. Woodgates), Buhle Bendalo
Oct 2025
de Doelen, Rotterdam
TREE – De Doelen Eduard Flipse Zaal, De Doelen, Rotterdam, 8.15pm Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (arr. Schofield), Les Rossignols Laura Moody, Rilke Songs Caroline Shaw (arr. Denholm-Blair), Plan & Elevation: I. The Ellipse Oliver Pashley, But I Still Breathe Abel Selaocoe (arr. Woodgates), Buhle Bendalo Héloïse Werner, Thunder Clears Errollyn Wallen (arr. Werner), Tree Marianne Schofield, Islands Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree
Dec 2025
Barbican, London
Instead of Many Islands, Let Us Be a Mighty River – Barbican Conservatory, Barbican Centre, London, 12pm, 2.30pm, 5pm A collaboration between The Hermes Experiment and five international sound artists, this immersive concert-installation responds to the climate emergency. Through live, semi-improvised performance, musicians from The Hermes Experiment will interact with sonic essays and interventions by Monthati Masebe (South Africa), Kathy Hinde (UK), Sandeep Bhagwati (India/Germany), Bint Mbareh (Palestine) and Martha Hincapié Charry (Colombia), each sharing their perspective on the climate crisis. Under the musical direction of Sandeep Bhagwati, these perspectives, symbolized as ‘islands,’ are connected into a unified call for action, the ‘mighty river.’ Presented by Barbican Centre as part of their Fragile Earth series and curated by Hanna Grześkiewicz. With generous support from The Marchus Trust.

Video

Photos

Selected Repertoire

Abel Selaocoe (arr. Woodgates)

Buhle Bendalo (November 2024)

Alex Mills

Samsara (May 2018)

Ali Lewis & The Hermes Experiment

Familiar Objects (November 2016)

Andy Ingamells

Tea towel (February 2016)

Anna Appleby

The Windhover (January 2017)

Anna Disley-Simpson

MAGIC Sound (October 2020)

Ayanna Witter-Johnson

Draw the Line (November 2020)

Benjamin Tassie

The looker (June 2014)

Darren Bloom

Second fig (July 2017)

Deborah Pritchard

Kandinsky Studies (February 2016)

Dominic Wills

Bird Movements (October 2016)

Ed Scolding

Black Sea (June 2014)

Edward Henderson

You don’t have to do this (anymore) (April 2015)

Edward Henderson

Blow/Suck (October 2014)

Elaine Mitchener

the/e so/ou/nd be/t/ween (September 2023)

Eleanor Alberga

Deep Blue Sea (November 2020)

Elis Czerniak

Baruopa (November 2015)

Eloise Gynn

Evolution (February 2016)

Eloise Gynn

Good Morning Mr Blackbird (May 2018)

Emily Hall

I am happy living simply and The end of the ending (February 2017)

Errollyn Wallen

gun gun gun (January 2019)

Ewan Campbell

London, he felt fairly certain, had always been London (October 2015)

Fergus Hall

Look what I found (June 2024)

Freya Waley-Cohen

We Phoenician Sailors (November 2016)

Freya Waley-Cohen

Oyster (June 2015)

Gareth Wood

Blake Canticles (Feburary 2015)

Giles Swayne

Chansons dévotes et poissonneuses (September 2014)

Graham Ross

Away in a Manger (December 2015)

Jacob Fitzerald

Letter of Request for Reconnection of Service

Jeremy Thurlow

Quiet Songs (November 2014)

Jethro Cooke & The Hermes Experiment

Metropolis (October 2015)

Jethro Cooke & The Hermes Experiment

The First Spring Concert of Universal Futurism (February 2017)

Joel Rust

Pack of orders (February 2017)

Jonathan Woolgar

Scenes from the Garden of Love (May 2014)

Joseph Davies

Hymn to Hermes (February 2018)

Josephine Stephenson

tanka (June 2015)

Josephine Stephenson

Between the war and you (December 2017)

Kate Honey

Predator Fish (June 2015)

Kate Whitley

My Hands (February 2016)

Kevin Leomo

Close to the Bone (February 2018)

Kim Ashton

Os, oris (November 2014)

Kim Ashton & The Hermes Experiment

The Winter’s Tale (September 2016)

Laura Moody

Rilke Songs (September 2021)

Lisa Robertson

an sgaireag: she screams (April 2025)

Lloyd Coleman

inferno (February 2014)

Lloyd Coleman & The Hermes Experiment

Devised piece (February 2015)

Marianne Schofield

Islands (2025)

Matthew Grouse

Daily Rituals (November 2019)

Mira Calix

DMe (May 2018)

Misha Mullov-Abbado

The Linden Tree (February 2015)

Oliver Leith

Uh huh, Yeah (January 2019)

Oliver Pashley

But I Still Breathe (2025)

Philip Venables

A Photograph (October 2020)

Raymond Yiu

Written at Sunset (November 2020)

Robin Haigh

Kalimotxo (March 2019)

Ruari Paterson-Achenbach

To Sleep On it (November 2019)

Shiva Feshareki

TRANSFIGURE (January 2023)

Shruthi Rajasekar

To ask is to listen (November 2025 - with added cello)

Soosan Lolavar

Mah Didam (February 2016)

Stephen Williams

Postlude Canon (September 2014)

Stevie Wishart

Eurostar – a journey between cities in sound (April 2016)

Sylvia Lim

Kite (Dymchurch) (November 2021)

The Hermes Experiment

A Response to Valentini (December 2017)

Timothy Cape

Dreams Piece (April 2015)

Timothy Cape

Favourite Bits (October 2014)

Tom Coult

I Find Planets (September 2021)

William Cole

Me faytz trobar (December 2013)

William Cole

Absence (June 2015)

William Marsey

E Major (May 2015)

William Marsey

Daybed Melody (June 2022)

William Marsey

Psalm 22 & 23 (June 2022)

Sample Programmes

  • Tree (Full Programme)

    Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (arr. Schofield), Les Rossignols Laura Moody, Rilke Songs Caroline Shaw (arr. Denholm-Blair), Plan & Elevation: I. The Ellipse Oliver Pashley, But I Still Breathe Fergus Hall, Look what I found (mvt II) Héloïse Werner, Thunder Clears Abel Selaocoe (arr. Woodgates), Buhle Bendalo Errollyn Wallen (arr. Werner), Tree Marianne Schofield, Islands Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree Hannah Peel (arr. Pashley), The Almond Tree

  • Tree (Lunchtime/Late Night Version)

    Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, Les Rossignols (6) Laura Moody, Rilke Songs (12) Caroline Shaw (arr. Denholm-Blair), Plan & Elevation: I. The Ellipse (4) Abel Selaocoe (arr. Woodgates), Buhle Bendalo (8) Héloïse Werner, Thunder Clears (5) Errollyn Wallen (arr. Werner), Tree (5) Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree (7) Hannah Peel (arr. Pashley), The Almond Tree (4)

  • Space and Nature (Full Programme)

    Cécile Chaminade (arr. Schofield), La Lune paresseuse Tom Coult, I Find Planets Caroline Shaw (arr. Denholm), Plan & Elevation: I. The Ellipse Laura Moody, Rilke Songs Soosan Lolavar, Mâh Didam Interval Anna Meredith (arr. Schofield), Fin like a flower Lili Boulanger (arr. Schofield), Reflets Kerry Andrew (arr. Denholm), Fruit Songs Errollyn Wallen (arr. Werner), Tree Hannah Peel (arr. Pashley), The Almond Tree Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree

  • Space and Nature (Lunchtime/Late Night Version)

    Cécile Chaminade (arr. Schofield), La Lune paresseuse Tom Coult, I Find Planets Caroline Shaw (arr. Denholm), Plan & Elevation: I. The Ellipse Laura Moody, Rilke Songs (movements I & III) Soosan Lolavar, Mâh Didam Errollyn Wallen (arr. Werner), Tree Hannah Peel (arr. Pashley), The Almond Tree Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree

  • Love & Betrayal (Full Programme)

    Barbara Strozzi (arr. Werner), Tradimento Freya Waley-Cohen, We Phoenician Sailors Clara Schumann (arr. Pashley), Liebst du um Schönheit Lili Boulanger (arr. Schofield), Attente Ruari Paterson-Achenbach, To Sleep on it Olivia Chaney (arr. Schofield), Roman Holiday Interval Cecile Chaminade (arr. Schofield), Ma Premiere Lettre & La Lune Paresseuse Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Draw the Line Lili Boulanger (arr. Pashley), Prelude in D flat Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree Richard Rodney Bennett (arr. Pashley), Slow Foxtrot Emily Hall (arr. Pashley), Befalling

  • Love & Betrayal (Lunchtime/Late Night Version)

    Barbara Strozzi (arr. Werner), Tradimento Freya Waley-Cohen, We Phoenician Sailors Clara Schumann (arr. Pashley), Liebst du um Schönheit Lili Boulanger (arr. Schofield), Attente Lili Boulanger (arr. Pashley), Prelude in D flat Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Draw the Line Olivia Chaney (arr. Schofield), Roman Holiday Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree Emily Hall (arr. Pashley), Befalling

  • Dance of the Earth (Full Programme)

    Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (arr. Schofield), Les Rossignols Jeremy Thurlow, Quiet Songs Imogen Holst (arr. Pashley), Cinquepace and Gigue Giles Swayne, Chansons Devotes and Poissoneuses mvt 1 ‘Les Poissons Melomanes ’ Richard Rodney Bennett (arr. Pashley), Slow Foxtrot Interval Sylvia Lim, Kite (Dymchurch) Anna Meredith (arr. Schofield), Fin like a flower Anon (arr. Pashley), Lanchas Para Bailar Lynne Plowman (arr. Pashley), Pedalling Man Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree Meredith Monk (arr. Denholm), Double Fiesta

  • Dance of the Earth (Lunchtime/Late Night Version)

    Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (arr. Schofield), Les Rossignols Jeremy Thurlow, Quiet Songs Anon (arr. Pashley), Lanchas Para Bailar Lynne Plowman (arr. Pashley), Pedalling Man Giles Swayne, Chansons Devotes and Poissoneuses mvt 1 ‘Les Poissons Melomanes ’ Misha Mullov-Abbado, The Linden Tree Richard Rodney Bennett (arr. Pashley), Slow Foxtrot Meredith Monk (arr. Denholm), Double Fiesta

  • Experimental Lunchtime/Late Night Set

    Philip Venables, A Photograph Josephine Stephenson, tanka Mira Calix, DMe Elaine Mitchener, the/e so/ou/nd be/t/ween Sylvia Lim, Kit (Dymchurch) Caroline Shaw (arr. Denholm), Plan & Elevation Errollyn Wallen (arr. Werner), Tree Meredith Monk (arr. Denholm), Double Fiesta

News

Press

  • The Hermes Experiment and Abel Selaocoe

    Wigmore Hall, London
    Nov 2024

  • Familiar Objects at the Purcell Room

    Southbank Centre, London
    Nov 2022

    • Throughout the ensemble operated as a unit, reacting and interacting with almost superhuman awareness.

  • Recording: Song

    Delphian Records
    Oct 2021

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

    • Not every group so compelling in live performance translates that magic onto disc. Here’s a brilliant case of one that can...

    • ...formidable chamber musicians (…) mesmerising soundworld...

      • BBC Music Magazine
      • 02 January 2022

  • Recording: Here We Are

    Delphian Records
    Jul 2020

    • This British group have released a most enticing calling card, advertising the skills of individual musicians and the liveliness and variety of Britain’s composing scene.

    • Hermes are quite an act, boldly entertaining...

    • ...witty and imaginative (…) joyous and heartbreaking...

    • ...buzzing with invention and shimmering with colour.

      • Apple Music
      • 12 July 2020

    • ...as delightful an encounter as the ensemble is in real life ... so many delights on their album, you never know what’s going to happen - it’s great hearing such a variety of composers finding interesting ways of using this ensemble’s unique resources ... a uniquely engaging ensemble.

    • The rather unusual combination of harp, clarinet, soprano and double bass proves to be quite astonishingly versatile on this rich, strange programme of new commissions by nine composers...

Discography