The season launches with a platform for Oxfordshire’s own creativity, the OCM Open, for which we are putting together a rich and no doubt eclectic night of treats from the many great submissions you’ve kindly sent us. We are also launching our new enhanced website where you can hear and download music you’ve missed and relive what you enjoyed from OCM’s recent seasons. Highlights include Kimmo Pohjonen’s music for North Aston farm and Harold Budd’s remarkable solo concert at the Holywell Music Room.

We showcase some of the UK’s finest new music with concerts by Graham Fitkin’s formidable nine piece band, the beguiling and joyful music of Spiro, the fresh and distinctive voices of Nancy Elizabeth, James Blackshaw and the “shambolic, bold and beautiful” Lotus Pedals. Music from across the water includes Danish experimental pop phenomenon Efterklang, German pianist Hauschka and the unsung American guitar hero and inventor of the wah wah pedal, Del Casher.

In May there’s a national gathering for community street bands that will descend and create musical merry mayhem to celebrate the arrival of spring in Oxford’s town centre. And, to top it all we mark Oxford’s Season of Science with a world premiere of Michael Zev Gordon’s Allele for the awesome forces of the New London Chamber Choir. Based on the structure of the singers’ genes, the piece will be performed at Oxford’s own pioneering scientific research facility, Diamond Light Source.

We do hope you will join us for our musical celebrations and explorations this season.

Jo Ross, Director