About EC4 Music

EC4 Music is a choir and orchestra in the City of London who give highly engaging, sell-out performances every year and raise money for chosen charities. We have great fun in delighting our audience, convincing even the most sceptical audience members of the passion and power of live music.

Formed in 1995, the choir and orchestra of EC4 Music still draw many of their numbers from those who work in the EC4 postcode area of London, accessing the huge but largely latent musical talent that lurks in the office-based environment of the City and beyond, and feeding on the enthusiasm and commitment that its performers bring with them. Over the last twelve years, the group has performed sell-out annual midsummer concerts in St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, with which it continues to have a close link, and has, each year, raised a considerable sum of money for chosen charities.

The group is still expanding, and remains as keen as ever to give new and existing members the opportunity to rekindle their love of music and to experience the pleasure of working together to achieve excellence outside the four walls of their workplace. The group at full strength numbers about 250 from over 100 firms and businesses, many of them based in and around the City.

There is a great sense of pride in what the group achieves - both musically and charitably. The musical standard reached is certainly comparable to some of the more established large choral and orchestral groups and EC4 Music is establishing a reputation as one of the leading amateur groups in London.

In March 2004, EC4 Music was invited to take part in the first ever Genius of the Violin Festival, performing at the Duke's Hall at the Royal Academy of Music in a concert which provided a platform to show off some of the rich talent at London's principal colleges of music. Two further Duke's Hall performances since then have further their support of both this and other charities.

EC4 Music is delighted to have had the opportunity to put on three fundraising concerts for The Prince's Trust. Following their Barbican debut in 2003, these three concerts have raised over £80,000 for The Prince's Trust's various projects, including the Sound Live Programme - a six day residential music course designed to help young people develop skills and confidence through music.

EC4 Music is always looking for opportunities to work with new partners on future concerts. If you would like to discuss your idea for a concert please get in touch.

Tim Crosley

Tim Crosley studied piano from a young age under Reginald Thompson in Devon culminating in four concerto appearances playing Mozart, Beethoven and Grieg at the Purcell Rooms in London as a teenager. At Cambridge University he performed several solo piano recitals and another Beethoven concerto at the West Road concert hall. He also sang as a tenor in various choirs while at University including Clare College Chapel Choir and the Cambridge University Chamber Choir, which involved tours to India, Russia and the United States as well as much of Europe.

Tim has been heavily involved with EC4 Music since its debut concert in St Bride's Church in 1995, playing solo piano in past years and taking over as conductor in 1997. He remains as keen as ever to continue to improve on what the group has achieved so far. Tim works as a partner and Head of Tax at Memery Crystal.

Claire Ashby

Claire Ashby has performed as orchestra leader and chamber musician since she was eight, at venues such as St John's, Smith Square, the Barbican and Wigmore Halls, and as soloist, including Bach's Double Violin Concerto at the Purcell Room (1984) and Vivaldi's Four Seasons at Charterhouse, Godalming (1987). She studied as a Scholar at the Royal College of Music with Professor Andrievsky and there founded the Sammons Quartet, which she led in recitals in the UK and Europe, and took part in the International Quarternion. She led all the Royal College orchestras, and prizes won included the Fred Brough Orchestral Leadership prize and the Hester Lavene Award.

Claire has led EC4 Music since 2000, guest leads the Apollo Chamber Orchestra and appeared as lead violinist with Wired Strings who perform and record with rock/pop artists including Kanye West, Paul Weller, Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart. Since 1996, her day job has been in marketing and publicity for organisations including the BBC Proms and The Royal Albert Hall, and she is currently Head of Media for the mental health charity Mind.