Once described as “probably the best school orchestra in the world”, Wells Virtuosi, founded and directed by Matthew Souter from 2008-2017 is reuniting under Souter as the Finzi Chamber Orchestra.
Our Mission
In reflecting on our journey so far, we recognise how The Finzi Chamber Orchestra has beautifully evolved from our time in Wells Virtuosi.
Our rich musical upbringing and diverse experiences we believe have the potential to shape a truly exceptional orchestra.
Matthew Souter's immediate acceptance of the role of Artistic Director reaffirms our commitment to this vision. With over a decade of professional experience, we are thrilled to now reunite in partnership with Souter with a renewed focus on musical excellence. Our 35 member chamber orchestra, including many original members of Wells Virtuosi, signifies a remarkable evolution from a school ensemble to a professional force.
Our passion is to deliver and share the very best musical experience, to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide and contribute to securing a bright and vibrant future for classical music.
We would be thrilled if you felt able to support us in whatever way and to be a part of our vision. Meeting for international tours, commissioning new works, live concerts, recordings, education work, exciting programming, cross-genre artistic collaborations and nurturing the next generation of emerging young professionals. We invite you to join us as we now embark on this new and very exciting next stage of our musical journey.
Laura Hampe, Raphael Papo, Amelie von Feilitzsch and Phoebe Tarleton - Founders
Our Story, Our Roots
Established in 2009, in a specialist music school nestled in England's smallest city, Wells Virtuosi was founded by Matthew Souter, distinguished violist and conductor. Under Souter’s baton his group toured extensively and soon developed an international audience and reputation becoming a magnet for world class young musicians, many from diverse corners of the globe and each drawn by the promise of musical excellence.
In rehearsal Souter created and cultivated a unique and beautiful string sound with incredible synergy amongst the players.
Souter’s own chamber group the Alberni String Quartet has been for many years at the forefront of British musical education; they succeeded the Amadeus Quartet as Quartet in Residence at The Royal Academy of Music, London. This placed Souter in an especially qualified position to be able to instill in us all exceptional levels of ensemble skills and to share his deep musical insights.
Over a ten year period the orchestra under Souter toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, garnering acclaim for its heartfelt performances and rich sound. Since then countless musicians from the orchestra have achieved renowned careers worldwide, yet somehow the electricity felt during those early years many of us feel has been unmatched.
“A sound experience that went under the skin and touched inside”
- Südkurier
“Fascinating sound culture and great virtuosity”
-Schwäbische Zeitung
“the best musical ambassadors for their country.”
- Rems-Zeitung
Matthew Souter, Artistic Director
“In complete command of his instrument” and “very musical in the finest way...”, so wrote the world-famous conductor Antal Dorati about Matthew Souter when proposing him for the principal viola position in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at just 22 years of age. Leonard Bernstein and Claudio Abbado, who Matthew Souter also worked with in a principal capacity likewise assisted Souter in his early career; Abbado described him as “an outstanding viola player”.
“You are truly fortunate to have a musician of the calibre of Matthew Souter conducting the Finzi Chamber Orchestra.”
- Lucy Chapman Former Chair, String Department New England Conservatory (NEC), Boston, USA.
Eleanor Corr, Concertmaster
Eleanor is winner of the Royal Overseas League Competition 2020 and in 2022 was awarded Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
Much in demand as a concertmaster, Eleanor has recently guest led Ulster Orchestra, Trondheim Symfoniorkester, Stavanger Symfoniorkester, London Concertante, Paraorchestra, Orchestra Nova London, Norrlandsoperan, and Orkester Innlandet. She has led English Touring Opera for 3 years, including 4 months leading associate period instrument orchestra Old Street Band, is leader of Buxton International Festival Orchestra, regular guest leader for Orpheus Sinfonia, where she has recently been named Principal Violin, and has been Orchestral Mentor for the Royal Academy of Music.
“We, at Rare Violins of New York are very excited to support and promote the Finzi Chamber Orchestra. This outstanding ensemble, under the direction of Matthew Souter, offers memorable performances of extraordinary energy and vision.
Generations of audiences and musicians will be inspired by these concerts, and I believe that such cultural experiences need to be shared internationally. We are looking forward to welcoming this elite orchestra to New York.”
Bruno Price, Partner
From our Artistic Director
Firstly, l would like to say how delighted and honoured l feel to have been invited as their conductor and to be involved in the forming and launching of the Finzi Chamber Orchestra.
For me this incredibly exciting venture feels a wholly natural and wholly organic artistic evolution. Knowing the members as well as l do, I am confident that our ensemble has the potential to become a professional orchestra of the very highest calibre and as such could well be destined to be performing in many of the world’s finest venues. The Finzi Chamber Orchestra comprises a wonderful group of passionate and highly developed young musicians. Their level of determination to succeed in this venture and to build something both meaningful and musically exceptional l find extraordinary and is certainly a wonderful and priceless basis from which to start. l could not be more excited about joining them and for what we will achieve together.
Our plans for both stimulating and innovative programming together with our already close associations with both new generation ‘rising stars’ as well as some of the world’s most established soloists - several of which have already expressed a desire to be part of our journey - I feel bodes well for a bright future.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people from, quite literally across the world, who over these past few years have expressed their enthusiasm, support and encouragement for the founding of The Finzi Chamber Orchestra. To them we continue to be grateful.
Additionally l wish to thank the Finzi family, particularly Hilary and Theresa for their immediate support and enthusiasm in the naming of our orchestra after their father and grandfather, the celebrated British composer Gerald Finzi. In acknowledging his importance both to us as an ensemble and of course to classical music generally, we feel it wholly appropriate for our orchestra to honour Finzi in this way. We already, in our previous form have a long history of championing and performing British music across Europe, not least the works of Finzi.
Most importantly of course though, musicians need audiences and we would be thrilled indeed to be able to welcome you to our concerts. Our ultimate goal has always been to touch audiences deeply and to provide a rich and rare concert experience for all. We would love to be able to share this with you.
Matthew
“We are thrilled to support Matthew Souter and these talented young musicians as they form the Finzi chamber orchestra in this new endeavour.
This incredibly exciting venture is not only a significant cultural enrichment to the European classical music landscape, but is also an extraordinary story of partnership, friendship and cooperation. We cannot wait to be joining them at their concerts, watching them come together, and see this exceptionally talented group of individuals establish themselves as an orchestra of the very highest order.”
Roger & Monty Saul, Founders of Mulberry & Sharpham Park
Please join us on our journey by supporting the Finzi Chamber Orchestra.
The Finzi Chamber Orchestra is more than a new ensemble - we believe it's the start of something extraordinary. As we prepare for our 2025 inaugural series of launch concerts; performances planned in Holland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, London and New York, we would be so delighted and so very grateful for any help and support you felt able to offer.
We see this as a rare and powerful moment: an opportunity to stand at the very beginning of a journey that we are confident will grow, resonate, and inspire for years to come. With your support, we can bring our debut performances to life, foster collaborations with outstanding artists and share compelling music with diverse audiences.
By contributing to our launch you’ll become a Founding Supporter, recognised as someone who helped make it all possible. Your name and generosity will be woven into the very foundation of our story. Founding Supporters may wish to remain anonymous or will receive;
● Special acknowledgment in our premiere concert programmes - unless of course you wish to remain anonymous.
● Priority invitations to performances and behind-the-scenes events.
● Recognition on our website and digital materials (optional)
● The knowledge that your gift helped bring a new artistic voice to life.
"To support an orchestra at its beginning is to shape its future — and to share in its legacy."
To learn more about how you can join our ‘family’ by becoming a Founding Supporter please contact us, we would love to hear from you.
- Phoebe, Raphael, Amelie, Laura and all members of The Finzi Chamber Orchestra.