1. The Kammermusik workshop in Oxford (22 – 26 September) proved to be a great success with larger numbers than ever before and St Edmund Hall,  a most welcoming venue. Originally a wind chamber music course, the addition of strings has added an enormous number of possibilities and seems to have contributed to the ever-rising standards. For me, the combination of small ensembles and two large ensembles to coach, one working on Mozart 40, and a Coaches concert proved a good mix for the week. The concert included wind quintets by Danzi (op 68 no 2) and Hindemith and the the Mozart C major quartet (K285b) which I played on the oboe with string trio.   It was so enjoyable to play the wind quintets with Robert Manasse (flute), Sarah Watts (clarinet), Stephen Stirling (horn) and Laurence Perkins bassoon) and the Mozart with Roger Coull (violin), Beth Fuller-Teed (viola) and Jane Salmon (cello) was equally rewarding. Keith Bowen (director) and Janet Yaker Murray, as ever, lead an excellent administration whilst themselves playing in ensembles. Kammermusik will meet again in February and July in Santa Fe and the next Oxford course is scheduled for 2016.

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