On 28 March 2025, Pavilion Ensemble presented Chamber Soloists in Spring, a midday concert that brought together a dynamic group of soloists, composers, and creatives for a celebration of chamber music in its most collaborative form. The performance, held at the historic St Mary le Strand Church, showcased a rich variety of contemporary and classical works, including two world premieres and an iconic modernist masterwork.
Under the direction of conductor and music director Yajie Ye, the ensemble navigated a diverse programme that featured flute, clarinet, cello, piano, guzheng, percussion, and voice—demonstrating not only technical excellence, but a deep commitment to musical dialogue across genres and cultures.
The concert featured two world premieres: A Butterfly’s Dream by Ray Lin, and Nostalgia of Lingnan by Litang Shao, both of which blended Chinese traditional instruments with Western chamber music. These were performed with exceptional nuance by Desislava Dimitrova-Pawlas (flute), Joy Boole (clarinet), Mengdie Ji (guzheng), Szymon Pawlas (cello), Michelle Kwan (piano), and Bryony Che (percussion), under Ye’s expressive conducting.
The programme also included Arnold Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, a challenging work handled with both theatrical sensitivity and structural clarity. Emily Wishart (soprano) delivered a compelling interpretation, supported by a tightly unified ensemble. The concert demonstrated not only the artistry of the individual performers, but also the Pavilion Ensemble’s strength as a collaborative unit. The musicians, many of whom are rising figures in the UK and international contemporary music scenes, brought authenticity and individuality to each performance while maintaining a cohesive ensemble spirit.
This event was supported by King’s College London and St. Mary le Strand Church (with London School of Economics) and concluded with a post-concert gathering at Bush House, inviting dialogue between artists, scholars, and audience members.
Chamber Soloists in Spring reflected the Pavilion Ensemble’s core mission: to champion new music, foster intercultural collaboration, and create space for artists to share bold, personal, and boundary-pushing work.
Full Programme:
