About Engines Orchestra
Built around the music
Founded in 2014 by composer, conductor and saxophonist Phil Meadows, Engines Orchestra brings together exceptional musicians from jazz, classical and contemporary music.
We believe an orchestra can be more than an ensemble brought together to perform. It can be a creative partner, helping artists explore new possibilities, develop ambitious ideas and bring extraordinary music to audiences.
Our Mission
As a registered charity, we exist to champion musical creativity and the people behind it.
We support original music, nurture artistic development and create opportunities for musicians and audiences to experience music in new ways.
Through collaboration, mentoring, education and performance, we bring together musicians from different backgrounds and traditions, encouraging creative exploration while maintaining the highest standards of musicianship.
We believe exceptional music should be driven by the strength of an idea, not only by the profile of the artist behind it.
How We Work
Every collaboration is different.
Sometimes we're involved from the earliest stages, working closely with artists to explore ideas, develop new music and shape ambitious productions. Other times, we bring our musicians and orchestral expertise to concerts and recordings that are already in development.
From intimate creative sessions to major concert stages, we build our approach around the artist, the music and the project.
What remains constant is our commitment to exceptional musicianship, creative ambition and making music together.
Our Story
Engines Orchestra was born from a belief in the power of music to bring people together.
That idea first took shape through Lifecycles, an ambitious project combining Phil Meadows' jazz quintet with improvising orchestral musicians. With support from Help Musicians' Peter Whittingham Jazz Award and Arts Council England, the project brought together original composition, orchestration and improvisation in a new musical setting.
Following a sold-out launch at Kings Place during the 2014 EFG London Jazz Festival, Engines Orchestra was named Jazz Ensemble of the Year at the 2015 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
What began as a single ambitious project has since grown into an established creative organisation, working with artists across genres and generations.
Collaborations with Phronesis, Ingrid Jensen, Belle Chen, Joy Ellis and Patrick Wolf reflect the orchestra's evolution, from original commissions and experimental productions to major performances, recordings and broadcasts.
Our ambition remains the same: to bring exceptional musicians together, champion creativity and make music that connects with people.
Artistic Leadership
Phil Meadows
Founder & Artistic Director
Phil Meadows is a multi-award-winning saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor whose career spans jazz, classical, contemporary and popular music.
Alongside founding and leading Engines Orchestra, Phil has worked with internationally renowned ensembles including the Metropole Orkest, BBC Concert Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Latvian Radio Big Band.
His work brings together artistic direction, orchestration and collaborative project development, often connecting musicians and artists from very different musical worlds.
Alongside his professional practice, Phil's doctoral research explores creativity and collaboration among orchestral musicians, reflecting a longstanding interest in how musicians learn, experiment and create together.
Through Engines Orchestra, he brings this experience together with a belief in artistic excellence, creative opportunity and the importance of building lasting musical relationships.
A Charity with a Creative Purpose
Engines Orchestra became a registered charity in 2016, supporting our commitment to musical creativity, education and public performance.
Alongside our professional concerts and recordings, we invest in original music, artistic development and opportunities for musicians to explore ideas that might otherwise remain unrealised.
Income from performances and partnerships, alongside grants and charitable donations, helps us build a sustainable organisation with the freedom to develop ambitious new work.
Through the eO Creator Fund, our supporters play a direct role in making this possible.
Engines Orchestra is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1166455), overseen by a board of trustees.
Be Part of What Comes Next
Whether you're an artist with an idea, an organisation looking to collaborate or someone who believes in supporting extraordinary music, we'd love to hear from you.
