Founded in 2015, the Janus Ensemble brings together talented professional musicians at the outset of their careers and has ‘established itself as vibrant addition to London concert life’. We are a small group, passionate about new music and interested in commissioning new work, supporting composers and musicians. We strive to be inclusive and socially active in the projects we create and the opportunities we provide.

Founded in 2015, the Janus Ensemble brings together talented professional musicians at the outset of their careers and has ‘established itself as vibrant addition to London concert life’.

Recently, the ensemble has enjoyed collaborations with the Zabludowicz Collection in London, forming part of their Hot With Excess contemporary opera programme, premiering a new opera and film by visual artist Trulee Hall. Alongside our own concerts and programming, other collaborations include the Malcom Arnold Festival, BBC 4 Television (Windfall Films), Five Senses Music, the Pimlott Foundation, Well Hayes concert series, Chiddingly Festival and Treatment Studios.

The ensemble has performed contemporary works by composers Ian Stephens, Guillermo Martinez, Peter Sculthorpe and Josephine Stephenson, alongside traditional works by Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Beethoven, Strauss and Britten.

Artistic Directors

Charlotte Amherst

Charlotte enjoys a diverse performance life of orchestral freelancing, chamber music and teaching in London. She studied the violin with Krysia Osostowicz at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, completing her  Masters in 2019. Charlotte read music at The University of Glasgow, graduating with First Class honours in 2016. She specialised in composition and arrangement, and was awarded The Goudie Prize for the highest standard of excellence in her final year.

Charlotte has always had a keen interest in promoting artists and composers through running projects.

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Michael Coleby

Based in London, conductor Michael Coleby has a particular interest in contemporary music and collaborating with composers. He made his professional debut in 2017, conducting the Deutsche Sinfonie – Orchester Berlin, at the Berlin Atonal Festival. Shortly afterwards he was invited back to conduct the DSO academy orchestra.

In recent years, Michael has worked as an assistant conductor with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Orquestra Castile y Leon and the Deutsche Sinfonie – Orchester Berlin.

Over the past year, Michael has worked delivering projects that support social justice, both in the community and prisons.

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