British composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad talks to Alexandra Wood about her new dramatic song cycle, 'Scenes from the Wild', set to lyrics by musician and librettist Amanda Holden. They talk about how many books Cheryl and Amanda went through before settling on Dara McAnulty's 'Diary of a Young Naturalist' and how Cheryl decided to become a composer over a cellist. 'Scenes from the Wild' premieres on Thursday 25 November 2021 at Southwark Cathedral, with a further two performances on Saturday 27 November. The piece will be premiered by City of London Sinfonia, Geoffrey Paterson (conductor) and William Morgan (tenor), with direction from Sarah Dowling. https://bit.ly/clsat50Origin3

Alexandra Wood talks to South Korean composer Donghoon Shin about his creative process and inspiration for his new work, My Shadow, co-commissioned by CLS and the Heidelberger Frühling. Donghoon also talks about his love for Mahler, Elgar, jazz bands and Led Zeppelin. The UK premiere of My Shadow will take place in our second Origin concert, Shifting sounds, at Southwark Cathedral on 4 November 2021. Origin: Shifting Sounds: https://bit.ly/clsat50Origin2

Alexandra Wood talks to composer Huw Watkins about his new piece, 'Five Duos', written in celebration of our 50th anniversary. 'Five Duos' will be premiered by Alexandra Wood (violin) and Katherine 'Waffy' Spencer (clarinet) in our 'Origin' series opener on 27 October at Southwark Cathedral. 'Origin: An authentic voice', 27 October 2021: https://bit.ly/clsat50Origin1

In her last #Lockdownchats of the year, Alexandra Wood celebrates our RPS Awards win with the mastermind of our participation programme, Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation). They discuss our award-winning Sound Young Minds project and what's next, the importance of supporting and developing the skills of our musicians, and making art accessible to everybody. RPS Impact Award: https://wp.me/p2PciD-20C Room to Room Music: https://wp.me/p2PciD-1Zu This conversation took place during the second lockdown in England, UK.

During lockdown two, Alexandra Wood caught up with our Principal Clarinet, Katherine Spencer, to see what she's been getting up to. Katherine ('Waffy') talks about the benefits of music and being part of our participation projects, working in care homes over the last few months, and our Restore and Revive programmes at Southwark Cathedral. And you'll want to stay tuned to hear what her ultimate costumes would be for different pieces of classical music!

In Lockdown Chats with Alexandra Wood, Gawain Hewitt talks about our Sound Young Minds project at Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School and our RPS Awards nomination, his joyous experiences at Headway East London, and the impact music has on mental health. Video version on YouTube: youtu.be/Amtui8AMPy0

Brett Dean chats to Alexandra Wood about his love for the live aspect of music, whether composing, conducting or performing viola; about getting into composing, directing from the viola seat and transitioning from a performing musician to composer and creative musician. Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Alexandra Wood chats to Ann Lovatt (Violin) about combining live music and mindfulness in our Mindful Music sessions, how she got into practising mindfulness and how it's helped her during lockdown. You can watch our Mindful Music sessions on Facebook (bit.ly/clsmindfulmusic) or on YouTube (bit.ly/clsMMytplay). Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Alexandra Wood talks to recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey in the sixth of our 'Lockdown chats'. They chat about our 'Absolute Bird' collaboration in 2019, all things recorder, the process of commissioning new compositions and the importance of arts and culture during lockdown and beyond. Image: Genevieve Lacey by Heide Smith. Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

In the fifth of our 'Lockdown chats', Ursula Leveaux (Principal Bassoon) chats to Alexandra Wood about making the most of the quiet Lake District during lockdown, how she got into playing the Baroque bassoon and her enjoyment of our project-based work. You can watch Ursula's 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episodes in our Facebook video playlist: http://bit.ly/clsccahfb Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Alexandra Wood caught up with composer Dobrinka Tabakova in the fourth of her 'Lockdown chats', reminiscing on performing 'Centuries of Meditations' in our Cathedrals Tour last October. Dobrinka also gives a glimpse into the life of a composer and talks about how it's changed in lockdown. Featuring an excerpt of 'Centuries of Meditations' by Dobrinka Tabakova. http://www.dobrinka.com Performed by City of London Sinfonia and Truro Cathedral Choir, conducted by Christopher Gray. https://www.trurocathedral.org.uk Recorded live by BBC Radio 3 in 'The Fruit of Silence' at Truro Cathedral on 17 October 2019 (broadcast on 29 October). http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3 Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

In the third of her 'Lockdown chats', Alexandra Wood talks to Joely Koos (Co-Principal Cello) about what it's like preparing for her Comfortable Classical at Home episodes live on Facebook and being able to spend more time with her family during lockdown. You can watch Joely's Comfortable Classical at Home episodes on City of London Sinfonia's Facebook playlist: http://bit.ly/clsccahfb Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Alexandra Wood talks to Co-Principal Horn Mark Paine in the second of her 'Lockdown chats'. Mark would usually be performing in all the operas in the Opera Holland Park Season in May-August, so Alex caught up with him to see what he's missing about it during lockdown. Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

In the first of her 'Lockdown chats', Leader and Creative Director Alexandra Wood talks to singer and composer Roderick Williams OBE about what he's missing and filling his time with during lockdown. Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Ruth Padel talks to Arna Margrét Jónsdóttir (Marketing Assistant) and Elaine Baines (Chief Operating Officer) about her original poem, based on the frame story of 'One Thousand and One Nights', written specially for 'Scheherazade: A retelling for our times' at Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall on 1 December 2019. Hosted by Arna Margrét Jónsdóttir. Recorded and edited in November 2019.

Hanan al-Shaykh talks to Arna Margrét Jónsdóttir (Marketing Assistant) and Elaine Baines (Chief Operating Officer) about her relationship with the stories of 'One Thousand and One Nights' and her role in 'Scheherazade: A retelling for our times' at Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall on 1 December 2019. Hosted by Arna Margrét Jónsdóttir. Recorded and edited in November 2019.

On Friday 3 May 2019, international recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey performs with City of London Sinfonia in ‘Absolute Bird: Sounds of the Outback’ at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Here’s what she had to say ahead of our performance. #AbsoluteBird: bit.ly/absolutebird

CEO Matthew Swann talks about all things birdsong and nature, and how composers from all periods have been fascinated by it, including Hollis Taylor—whose music our Absolute Bird series is named after. View Absolute Bird series: http://bit.ly/absolutebird > 3 May, Sounds of the Outback > 15 May, Flocks of Europe > 24 May, Translating Nature Image: Pied butcherbird by Hollis Taylor

Our participation team chats about our spring projects and how we're using the repertoire and themes of our Absolute Bird series (London, May 2019) to create shared musical experiences in wellbeing and education settings. Featuring Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation), Fiona Johnstone (Participation Projects Manager) and Natasha Allery (Marketing and Audiences Officer). Recorded on 11 March 2019 at the CLS Office.

Our participation team chats about our spring projects and how we're using the repertoire and themes of our Absolute Bird series (London, May 2019) to create shared musical experiences in wellbeing and education settings. Featuring Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation), Fiona Johnstone (Participation Projects Manager) and Natasha Allery (Marketing and Audiences Officer). Recorded on 11 March 2019 at the CLS Office.