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‘The Hermes Experiment embody pure, limitless creativity. Comprising soprano, clarinet, harp and double bass, they show us – in their unique recitals and debut disc – all the joy, adventure and reward that comes from commissioning a cosmos of composers. Their chemistry and zeal has equally fuelled student composers in digital workshops presented to schools. It’s clear the experiment is proving a tremendous success.’
Just announced, this year’s Royal Philharmonic Society Awards salute musical heroes – both amateur and professional – who have inspired the nation through the pandemic. The Awards were hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenter Katie Derham and RPS Chief Executive James Murphy, with trophies presented at London's Wigmore Hall by RPS Chairman John Gilhooly.
The Hermes Experiment
With over sixty commissions to its credit after just six years of existence, The Hermes Experiment has already proved itself a force to be reckoned with in the creation and advocacy of new music.
Now, nine of those commissions are brought together on the ensemble’s debut album release, showcasing its deliberately idiosyncratic line-up of harp, clarinet, soprano and double bass in a compelling survey of styles and individual voices.
Receiving over 4500 public votes, the Inspiration Award – newly introduced to celebrate amateur ensembles who have kept communities connected through the pandemic – went to another Delphian Artist, Bristol Choral Society and its conductor Hilary Campbell,whose album The Big Picture was released in 2020.
‘The nation abounds with musical heroes. Second to none is conductor Hilary Campbell who kept Bristol Choral Society singing through the pandemic. She led stirring online renditions of choral works. She personally hosted a digital launch for the choir’s first CD, and she ran a Christmas carol commissioning competition, drawing hundreds of listeners online. Her spirit, athleticism and sheer joy are instantly, irresistibly apparent in the choir’s performances and recordings throughout the year.’
Bristol Choral Society, Hilary Campbell
High in energy and rich in expression and range of subject matter, these three works for mixed choral and instrumental forces show contemporary British music at its most accessible and engaging. The massed forces of Bristol Choral Society are joined by a children’s choir – the stunning Bristol Youth Choir – and a solo soprano in Cecilia McDowall’s contemplation of the human lifespan and our place in the universe.
