About us 

Sophie Middleditch - recorder

Helen Hooker - recorder

Gareth Deats - baroque 'cello

David Pollock - harpsichord

Since its formation in 1998, The Parnassian Ensemble has gained a reputation for its virtuosic performances and innovative programming. It regularly appears at prestigious venues throughout the British Isles such as The Purcell Room; St. John's, Smith Square; St. David's Hall, Cardiff and The Fairfield Hall, Croydon.  The ensemble also performs for festivals, music societies and museums as well as schools and universities.

The group's concert schedule has included appearances at the Victoria and Albert Museum; the National Portrait Gallery; the Cobbe Collection of historical keyboard instruments, Hatchlands, Surrey; the Newbury Spring Festival; the Djanogly Recital Hall, Nottingham; the Firth Hall, University of Sheffield and the Totnes Early Music Society, Devon.

An unusual feature of its recitals is the introduction to audiences of fine, original, early eighteenth-century English recorder music which would otherwise remain virtually unknown.  It was this enthusiasm that led to the recording of their critically acclaimed first disc, A Noble Entertainment - Music from Queen Anne's London 1702-1714 (AV2094), released on the Avie Records label and which is now regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and world-wide.