Volante Strings was formed in 1999 by Megan Webb and the late Angela Richey. Angela led the orchestra and was passionate in her championing of string music. They generally play chamber style without a conductor which means working very closely with each other in rehearsal in order to achieve a high standard of concert performance. Their aim is to enjoy playing and to share their enthusiasm for string music with their audiences.

Their programmes encompass a varied and challenging range of styles, from classical, through contemporary to light and their repertoire covers music from as far back as the sixteenth century right up to the present day. It gives them much pleasure to perform arrangements by their own players and also new works written specially for the ensemble by local composers such as Derek Smith, Bob Thomas, Richard Percy, John Frith and Roger Nichols. Over the years they have collaborated with many fine soloists of international standing, including pianist Charles Owen, tenor James Oxley, violinist Katherine Gowers and horn-player Stephen Stirling.

Our name Volante means "fast and light" and comes from the Italian word for flying. It is used to describe a particular style of bowing, but they have also flown in other ways - concert tours have taken us four times to Greece and more recently to Ostend and Bruges.

Volante Strings photography by Sheila Joynes.