The Emerald Ensemble

Roger Armstrong – Flute
Roger Huckle – Violin
Rachel Gough – Violin
Lisanne Melchior – Viola
Keith Tempest – Cello
Andrew Davies – Bass
Rupert Gough – Harpsichord

The Emerald Ensemble is a versatile, exciting chamber orchestra based in the South-West of England. The group, which performs standing up, is directed from the violin by its leader and founder Roger Huckle. This freedom of movement and communication between the musicians while performing enables even the large ensemble to maintain the vibrancy and enthusiasm of chamber music under the direction of visiting soloists and the group’s leader. Roger is a busy soloist, leader and recording artist in London, Wales, Bristol and the South-West. His violin lineage can be traced back to Carl Flesch via Frederick Grinke.

Other members of the group, many of whom are busy soloists in their own right, include current and former first chair players of major orchestras, cathedral organists, chamber musicians in trios and quartets and busy freelancers. The players, from this diverse background, choose to commit their time and stylistic expertise to form the core of the Emerald Ensemble.

Another exciting facet of the group’s development has been many collaborations with living composers and instrumentalists. The Emerald Ensemble is responsible for world première performances and first recordings of works by Ian Venables, John Marsh, Christopher Ball and Edward Williams. The group has also forged close ties with publishers as well as commissioning and performing works by group regulars Martin Pring and Haley Savage.

Support for the group has grown steadily since the first performance nearly 10 years ago which spawned the ensemble's first of many close ties with concert societies and festivals throughout Bristol and the surrounding region. Through those repeat engagements at the Three Choirs Festival and many other festivals, the ensemble has been able to expand its repertoire to include a wide range of music.

The broad spectrum of music encompassed by the chamber orchestra in general coupled with the individual experience of member players has lead to the formation of several spin-off groups which encompass musical styles as varied as oboe quartet, jazz and tango ensembles, string trios and quartets, salon/café music, and education and contemporary music workshops. These groups all work under the Emerald name or with key Emerald players and were all featured alongside the chamber orchestra in the Bristol International Chamber Music Festival in 2002. This event drew on the range and depth of these groups to provide a whirlwind of events including such performers as Oboeworks (oboe quartet), the Gough Duo (violin and organ), the Emerald Ensemble with pianist Alan Schiller, Café Ganache (salon quartet), the Emerald Piano Quintet and collaborators Pee Wee Elfis and Tango Siempre.

Flowing along swimmingly with a breathtakingly beautiful performance
Bath Chronicle

Roger Huckle's sense of colour and tremendous freedom ensured a beautifully shaped performance
Birmingham Post

As director, his control of orchestral balance and timbre is above average, inspiring his players to some quite outstanding playing
Stroud News and Journal

A feast of chamber music from the top drawer
Belfast Telegraph

Roger Huckle gave an electrifying performance of Winter
Bristol Evening Post

An absolute delight
Bath Chronicle

The Andante had a magical effect and the Finale was irrepressibly joyful
Bristol Evening Post

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