Our Mission.

The Engines Orchestra (eO) makes sounds that defy conventions. Uniting the UK’s most adventurous classical, jazz, world and folk musicians to make award-winning collaborative projects; we’re a community working closely with other artists to push the boundaries and develop audiences for groundbreaking, new music.

The concept of the eO was first imagined by multi-award winning saxophonist and composer Phil Meadows whilst grappling with the diagnosis of type-one diabetes (an autoimmune disease) in April 2013. Staying in a hospital ward without phone signal or internet connection and with only the patients, staff and those who visited to spark conversation Meadows quickly realised the importance of community and how music can bring people together in ways he wasn’t currently exploring. Through a challenging time, a big idea was born.

Recognition from both Help Musicians UK’s Peter Whittingham Jazz Award and Arts Council England quickly followed in support of the Engines Orchestra’s debut project – a collaborative album with the Phil Meadows Group titled Lifecycles. The record featured 13 improvising string players, woodwind, brass, harp and vocals alongside Meadow’s jazz quintet. The result – an exciting suite of new music fusing highly scored soaring melodies with freewheeling spontaneity.

Launching with a sell-out headline gig at the 2014 EFG London Jazz Festival, the Engines Orchestra has since gone from strength to strength and was awarded ‘Best Ensemble’ at the 2015 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Lifecycles has also received praise from The Guardian, Jazzwise, TimeOut and All About Jazz as well as extensive airplay across BBC Radio 2, 3 and JazzFM.

Today the Engines Orchestra HQ is a hive of activity, working with artists from all backgrounds to produce cutting-edge, original music for everybody to enjoy. As our community grows we aspire to be the UK’s leading creative ensemble, bringing our work to international audiences and providing an opportunity for people from all over the world to get involved. If you have a big idea, then get in touch!