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

Édouard Wolff

Six Nocturnes

John Cage

Variation IV

John Cage

Four6

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

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