Having given memorable concerts in the past for the Richmond Concert Society we welcome the ensemble back to open our 2009-2010 Season.

The London Conchord Ensemble was formed in 2002 by internationally recognised young soloists, chamber musicians and principals from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Opera House Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conchord made its Wigmore Hall debut in October 2002 and followed with a European debut at the Schleswig-Holstein festival. The group performs across the UK, Europe and North America and make regular live appearances on BBC Radio 3. The past season has included a 10 concert tour to Ireland including Dublin Castle and performances at Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Windsor Festival with Sue Bickley, Newbury Festival with Andrew Kennedy, and Chelsea Festival with James Gilchrist.

Future seasons include concerts in Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Palais des Beaux Arts Brussels, Waterloo Chambers in Windsor Castle (Windsor Festival) and further concerts in festivals, music societies and concert halls in the United Kingdom.

Conchord has a busy recording career, having already made several discs for Sanctuary Classics/ASV, Black Box and Quartz. Their last recording, a double CD with concertos by J S Bach, has been critically acclaimed and chosen as Henry Kelly's CD of the week on Classic FM. In 2010 they are going to release their latest album "St Petersburg" on Orchid Classics.

Maggie Cole enjoys a richly varied musical life with performances on harpsichord, fortepiano and piano. Born in the USA, she began playing the piano from an early age. A keen interest in early keyboards led her to England where she now makes her home. Maggie's teachers were Jill Severs and Kenneth Gilbert and she is pleased to be part of this harpsichord "family tree" which began with Wanda Landowska. Best known in Britain through numerous recitals on BBC Radio 3 and appearances at leading festivals, abroad she has performed in venues from Seattle to Moscow, and from Finland to India.

In addition to solo recitals - with Bach's 'Goldberg Variations' a speciality, given in London, Paris, Cologne, Basel, Mallorca and Chicago - she frequently performs in duos with partners including Nancy Argenta soprano, Michael Chance counter tenor, Philippa Davies flute, Catherine Mackintosh violin and Steven Isserlis cello. She is also particularly devoted to the Classical chamber music repertoire and explores this with her fortepiano trio, "Trio Goya" (Maggie, Kati Debretzeni, violin and Sebastian Comberti, cello). Trio Goya will be releasing a CD of Haydn trios in 2009.