clarinet
Rennie Sutherland
flute
Hannah Gillingham
piano
David Palmer
violin
Hana Mizuta-Spencer
conductor
Joshua Ballance
cello
Laura MacDonald
bio
Mad Song are a dynamic young ensemble who specialise in performances of 20th and 21st century music. Founded in 2019 they have become renowned for their committed performances, particularly of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ Eight Songs for a Mad King, which they have performed around the UK. Their performance at the Aberystwyth Festival was lauded for its 'brutality and raw energy' (David Campbell) and their playing has been described as ‘beyond praise’ (Seen & Heard International).
They have frequently workshopped and premiered works by emerging composers, whilst 2020 saw their recording debut as they joined the Octandre Ensemble in the studio for music by the English composer Frank Denyer (Another Timbre). That year, they were also selected by the Park Lane Group to perform in an anniversary celebration of the composer Roberto Gerhard. They have collaborated with singers including Benedict Nelson, Rebekah Jones, and Anita Monserrat, and have been tutored by specialists including Richard Hosford and David Campbell. In 2024 they were chosen to attend the International Ensemble Modern Academy in Frankfurt, Germany.