On this occasion I played with the Oxford-based orchestra, ‘Instruments of Time & Truth’. We played in the 11am concert, which was part of the Divine Office Festival, promoted by Martin Randall Travel. This Oxford-based festival featured several performances in the early hours of the morning. This festival observes the eight services of the monastic day, all performed at the time of day for which they were liturgically intended. Ten choirs and ensembles performed in eight chapels and churches, with 17 concerts and three lectures in total. The festival included performances from the renowned choirs of the following colleges: Magdalen, New College, The Queen’s College and Merton.

Instruments of Time & Truth performed the Mozart Vespers with Merton College Choir, under the baton of Ben Nicholas. I was a last-minute replacement, as was Sophie Bevan (soprano) who stood in for an ill soloist. She also sang a brilliant rendition of Mozart’s Exultate [K. 165], which preceded the Vespers in this short programme.