Lyra Ensemble – reed quintet

The Programme

Christian Hoddinott – clarinet
Hannah Shimwell – bass clarinet
Johnathan Churchett – bassoon
Paynor Tsate – saxophone
Lizzy Russell – oboe

Die Hebriden
arranged Jelte Althuis

Refraction
1. Death Metal Chicken

Elegy

Rhapsody in blue
arranged Raaf Hekkema

The Artists

Founded in October 2024, Lyra Ensemble is an award-winning London-based quintet with a shared vision to champion the unique and vibrant sound world of the reed quintet. Lyra prides itself in combining new works with traditional repertoire that you might find in the classical world. The ensemble consists of graduates and current students from the Royal College of Music, where the quintet was awarded the RCM Woodwind Ensemble Prize in 2025. Between the five members, they have been awarded multiple scholarships from the RCM, Help Musicians and the Countess of Munster Trust.
Christian Hoddinott is a clarinettist based in London. He completed his undergraduate course at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire before moving to London to study at the Royal College of Music. He’s currently part of the Sinfonia Smith Square for their 2025/26 season.
British clarinettist and bass clarinettist Hannah Shimwell is graduating with her Master’s from the Royal College of Music supported by the Wilkins-Mackerras Award, the Ian Fleming Instrumentalist Award with Help Musicians and the Munster Trust. She works regularly with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Britten Sinfonia and loves to perform as a chamber musician, with recent highlights including playing with Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective and with the Hyde Quartet as part of their Tunnell Trust tour.
Jon Churchett is a London-based bassoonist. Originally from the USA, he holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Texas at Austin. Jon is currently completing postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music.
Paynor Tsate is a recent graduate of the Royal College of Music where he was supported by the Robert Sutherland Award, Help Musicians and the Munster Trust. He previously studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where was a recipient of the RBC Saxophone Prize and the Doris Newton Music Award. He freelances in the UK with performances alongside Roderick Williams OBE, Beverley Knight, Yolanda Brown and Nick Grimshaw.
Lizzy Russell is a London-based freelance oboist who has performed with orchestras worldwide. Alongside her performing career, she teaches and leads outreach and intergenerational workshops. She is currently completing an Artist Diploma at the Royal College of Music.