London Mozart Players

Founded in 1949 by Harry Blech to delight audiences with the works of Mozart and Haydn, London Mozart Players are one of the world’s finest chamber ensembles, dedicated to harnessing the passion and talent of our musicians so our audiences can revel in the joy of world-class live performance. London Mozart Players have a unique musical pedigree; its rich history connects it to the greatest names in classical music, while its pioneering approach to music-making marks the orchestra as a leader in terms of outreach, education and diversity. They are a versatile chamber orchestra of the 21st century, dedicated to reaching new audiences with classical music.​

Simon Blendis joined the LMP as leader in 2014. He was a member of the Schubert Ensemble for twenty-three years, from 1995 until the group retired in 2018, leaving a legacy of over eighty commissions, twenty-five CD recordings and a large library of live performances on YouTube. Simon is in demand as a guest-leader and has appeared in this role with most of the UK's major orchestras. He has also appeared as a guest-director with orchestras such as the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Scottish Ensemble. Since 1999 he has shared the position of leader of Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa in Japan, with whom he has recorded Vivaldi's Four Seasons for the Warner label. As a soloist he has appeared with orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, the RPO and the CBSO.

Aki Blendis, aged 16, was a string finalist in the 2022 BBC Young Musician, and was winner of the Walter Todds Memorial Bursary, since when he has been invited to perform in a number of recitals and concertos across the UK. Aki is a member of the National Youth Orchestra and is also an enthusiastic chamber musician, playing both violin and viola at Beare's Chamber Music.