Nonesuch Orchestra to Perform World Premiere at St. Peter's Acton Green

80 students from three local schools taking part

Picture: The Nonesuch Orchestra

February 13, 2026

The Nonesuch Orchestra returns to Chiswick this spring with an ambitious programme of new music, including the world premiere of There was a tree, a newly commissioned suite for double string orchestra by composer Tim Watts.

The performance takes place on Sunday 8 March at 5pm at St Peter’s Church, Acton Green, and will be free to attend.

The concert forms part of the 2026 CoMA (Contemporary Music for All) Festival and showcases the results of the orchestra’s 2025–26 Composition and Side-by-Side Project, which pairs professional musicians with young performers from west London schools. Alongside the premiere, the programme features brand new works by secondary school students from Chiswick School, Park High School in Stanmore and Twyford CofE High School, as well as Jessie Montgomery’s much-admired 2012 work Strum.

For the premiere of There was a tree, Nonesuch will perform side-by-side with students from Chiswick School, West London Free School and the Twyford CofE Academies Trust schools, creating a combined ensemble of around 80 players. The piece has been written specifically for this collaboration, with the double string orchestra format allowing students and professionals to perform together in a rich, layered sound world.

The Nonesuch Orchestra has long been recognised for its commitment to new music and music education. Dame Judith Weir, former Master of the King’s Music, has described the ensemble as “admirable” and “very high quality”, praising its work bringing live orchestral music into schools across London. The orchestra regularly runs workshops in boroughs including Newham, Walthamstow, Barnet, Bermondsey and Harrow, giving many young people their first experience of hearing and playing alongside a live orchestra.

Sunday’s concert will last around 75 minutes, making it an accessible early-evening event for families. Doors open at 4.30pm, with tea, coffee and cake available before the performance. Admission is free, and there will be a retiring collection to support the orchestra’s ongoing work in London schools.

Further information about the event and the project can be found on the Nonesuch Orchestra and CoMA websites.

This page is sponsored by Rocks Lane who support community initiatives in Chiswick.