Wind and strings combine for July chamber music concert

The Netherhall Ensemble poster A ‘tiny orchestra playing a fun group of instruments’ will be performing at St John the Evangelist Church in Cambridge on Saturday 4 July 2026, when the Netherhall Ensemble’s wind instruments are joined by string players to present music by Lachner, Martinu and Neilsen.

“Most chamber music is written either just for wind or just for string players,” says Tim Summers of the Netherhall Ensemble. “We wanted to find pieces that joined a wind quintet with strings to make a tiny orchestra! We have chosen pieces from different eras to showcase this fun group of instruments.”

The music chosen ranges from the playful mid-19^th century romanticism of Franz Lachner, to Martinu’s 20^th century mix of modern musical ideas with his central European folk roots. The nine musicians will also be playing a movement from the wind quintet written by Carl Nielsen in 1922. Nielsen is one of Denmark’s most prominent composers.

The Netherhall Ensemble was formed during the pandemic by professionally trained wind players living around the south Cambridge area. The group have variety of ‘day jobs’, with a lawyer, a nurse, a data scientist and an accountant amongst their number.

The concert is at 7.30pm on Saturday 4 July, at St John the Evangelist Church, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8RN. Tickets are £12 per person (£6 concessions) and are available on the door, by cash or card payment. Any proceeds will be donated to St John the Evangelist Church.

23/06/2026

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Planning your Visit

New to Church?

If you are planning your first visit to St John’s, welcome! We hope the information below will help you.

Our Sunday morning services begin at 10.00am. When you arrive, you will be greeted by one of our welcoming team who will help you find somewhere to sit and will give you a service booklet and a hymn book. Please see our ‘Sunday services’ page for more details of services and times.
We serve tea, coffee and biscuits after the morning service and we hope very much that you will stay for a chat. All refreshments are free.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access through powered double doors, and an accessible toilet. We have a small car park, and there is free parking on a Sunday in the surrounding streets. You may wish to arrive 10-15 minutes early if you need a parking space close to the church.

You can expect:
- A warm welcome, with everything you need to follow the service easily;
- Beautiful music in the English choral tradition at both Sunday services, led by the St John's choir and organist;
- A talk or sermon, usually focused on the readings we have heard;
- On Sunday and Wednesday mornings, tea or coffee afterwards and time to chat with others.

What about children?
We have a regular Children’s Church on Sunday mornings for 4-11 year-olds. The children learn about the same Bible readings we are hearing in church, with games, activities and prayers. We also have an All-Age service, where everybody worships together, on the first Sunday of each month. Find out more about Children's Ministry.