London Contemporary Orchestra

Founded in London in 2008 by Robert Ames and Hugh Brunt, who still share its artistic leadership and management, the London Contemporary Orchestra has established itself as an ensemble devoted to contemporary music in a broad sense — from orchestral writing and minimalism to experimental textures, ambient and dialogue with electronic music. From its early days at St Luke’s, the Orchestra performed works by Xenakis, Saariaho, Thomas Adès, Messiaen and Jonny Greenwood, before appearing at venues such as the Barbican, the Southbank Centre, the Roundhouse, the Royal Opera House and the Unsound festival, as well as in unconventional spaces. The London Contemporary Orchestra has also developed a significant presence in film music, recording for films such as The Master (2012), Macbeth (2015), Moonlight (2016), Suspiria (2018) and The Two Popes (2019). The collective has collaborated with artists including Actress, Matmos, Foals, Frank Ocean, Thom Yorke and Radiohead, with notable contributions to A Moon Shaped Pool (2016), Anima (2019) and projects by The Smile. In 2015 the London Contemporary Orchestra received the RPS Music Award in the Ensemble category, and in 2022 made its mark at the Barbican with a continuous twenty‑four‑hour concert.