Wind Quintet · North West England

Northerly
Winds

A lively, vibrant chamber ensemble bringing fresh energy and bold programming to wind quintet music.

"Listening to you guys play was so exhilarating — I was completely wired by the end."
Audience Member

Five musicians.
One voice.

Northerly Winds are formed from some of the finest freelance musicians in the North West, with individual credits spanning the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and English National Ballet. Together, they bring world-class musicianship to intimate, engaging and unforgettable concert experiences.


Meet the Ensemble
Northerly Winds in a church pew

Thank you for opening up chamber music to a younger audience — your endeavours enriched our Festival programme greatly and in many ways.

Bollington Festival

It was such a fun, creative and brilliantly performed event. You made the music so engaging for children and adults alike.

Audience Member

The Five hit the mark!

Stockton Heath Music Society

Next Performances

17 Jul2026

Evening Recital

Crosby Music Festival · 7:30pm

Festival
23 Jul2026

Lunchtime Recital

The Rectory, Church Lane, Nantwich · 12:30pm

Recital
All Concerts

Meet Northerly Winds

Formed from some of the top freelance musicians in the North West, NW5 have performed to much acclaim since their formation — bringing professional excellence to intimate and vibrant concert experiences across the region.

Flute

Emily Doan

Oboe

Emily Crichton

Clarinet

Beth Nichol

Bassoon

Jon Jones

Horn

Michael Arnold

Northerly Winds outdoors

Each member of Northerly Winds is a sought-after freelance musician whose individual portfolio spans leading UK orchestras and ensembles. Collective credits include the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra, English National Ballet, London Concert Orchestra, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.


Members have trained at the Royal Northern College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, with further orchestral development through Southbank Sinfonia and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.


Their shared love of music — and especially chamber music — is what brought them together as an ensemble. Since formation, NW5 have performed across the North West at venues including Sheffield Cathedral, the Anthony Burgess Foundation, Bollington Chamber Society, Spring Bank Arts, Stockton Heath Music Society, and Crosby Music Festival.

"This was the first event like this I had attended. I never expected that I would enjoy it so much myself!"
Audience Member

Upcoming Concerts

NW5 perform regularly across the North West and beyond. Whether a full evening recital, afternoon tea concert, or lunchtime event — every performance is an experience.

17 Jul2026

Evening Recital · Crosby Music Festival

7:30pm · Crosby, Merseyside

Festival
23 Jul2026

Lunchtime Recital

12:30–13:30 · The Rectory, Church Lane, Nantwich CW5 5RQ

Recital
SheffieldCathedral

Evening Concert

Sheffield

Concert
AnthonyBurgess Fdn

Chamber Concert

Manchester

Concert
BollingtonChamber

Concert Series

Bollington

Series
StocktonHeath

Music Society Concert

Stockton Heath

Society
SpringBank Arts

Afternoon Tea Concert

New Mills, Derbyshire

Concert

Interested in booking NW5 for your concert series, festival, or event?

Book the Quintet

The Music We Play

From the core classical canon to bold contemporary voices, NW5 programme with curiosity and conviction — always including music that may not receive the representation it deserves.

Core Repertoire

  • Reicha
  • Danzi
  • Nielsen
  • Ligeti
  • Barber
  • Hindemith
  • Ibert
  • Françaix
  • Holst
  • Arnold

Contemporary & Diverse Voices

  • Valerie Coleman
  • Amanda Harberg
  • Julio Medaglia
  • Oscar Navarro
  • Mary Howe
  • Florence Maunders

A Note on Programming

NW5 are committed to widening the wind quintet canon. They gave the second known UK performance of a quintet by Mary Howe — the first woman on the music faculty at New York University — and were gifted a copy of Fleeting Images to perform by award-winning composer Florence Maunders. The ensemble is currently fundraising to commission brand-new works for wind quintet.

"The Five hit the mark!"
Stockton Heath Music Society

Music Beyond the Stage

Community engagement and education are central to everything NW5 do. From school workshops to charity partnerships, the ensemble believes in the power of music to connect, inspire and transform.

2+

Schools & Colleges visited

3

Quintets coached at Play Day 2026

2

Charity partnerships

Audience members inspired

Inspiring the Next Generation

NW5 have received funding to deliver workshop days at Bury Grammar School and Holy Cross College, working with students through performance and interactive coaching. The ensemble are passionate about introducing young people to the breadth and excitement of wind chamber music.

NW5 performing for children

It was an unbelievable treat to have professional musicians come and visit our primary school. I want to shake you all by the hand individually!

Headteacher

NW5 school outreach

Music as Connection

The ensemble has partnered with charities Archer and Unmasked Mental Health, hosting outreach days that use music as a tool for wellbeing and human connection. NW5 believe strongly in the social value of live performance.

Coaching Amateur Musicians

In 2026, NW5 took their community work a step further by hosting their own Play Day — a full day coaching amateur musicians across three wind quintets. Participants had the rare opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside professional musicians, marking an exciting new strand in the ensemble's outreach programme.

Championing Every Voice

NW5 are passionate about performing and promoting music that may not receive the representation it deserves. Every programme consciously features composers whose voices have been historically under-represented.

Mary Howe

Northerly Winds gave the second known UK performance of a wind quintet by Mary Howe — the first woman to serve on the music faculty at New York University. Bringing her work to new audiences is exactly the kind of programming NW5 stand for.

Florence Maunders

Award-winning composer Florence Maunders gifted NW5 a copy of her quintet work Fleeting Images to perform — a testament to the trust the contemporary composing world places in the ensemble's commitment to new and diverse music.

Commissioning New Works

NW5 are currently in the middle of a funding campaign to commission brand-new works for wind quintet. The goal: to improve diversity in chamber repertoire and ensure that audiences and musicians of the future feel represented in the classical music world. If you'd like to support or get involved, please get in touch.

"Thank you for opening up chamber music to a younger audience — your endeavours enriched our Festival programme greatly and in many ways."
Bollington Festival

Hear Northerly Winds

Live recordings from WAICDOM and beyond. Turn it up.

NW5 Live at WAICDOM

Belle Époque dans Sud-América

Julio Medaglia · Live at WAICDOM

The Blackbird

Live at WAICDOM

Umoja

Live at WAICDOM

Sechs Bagatelle

Ligeti · Live at WAICDOM

Find more recordings and updates on SoundCloud and Instagram.

Watch NW5 on YouTube

Catch our latest videos on the Northerly Winds YouTube channel.

Download our EPK

Full Electronic Press Kit including biography, repertoire, quotes, venue history, and contact details.

↓  Download EPK (PDF)

Let's Work Together

Whether you're booking a concert, planning an education project, or simply want to find out more — we'd love to hear from you.

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Location

North West, England

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Registered

CIC No: 16026668