Oculi Ensemble

The Oculi Ensemble is a flexible seven-member group that is capable of performing a variety of repertory. It is an offshoot of the Badke Quartet, with the members of that quartet at its core. The Oculi Ensemble was formed in early 2016 and acquired its name as the Badke Quartet was touring in South Florida in February of that year. The quartet's members -- violinist Charlotte Scott and Emma Parker, violist Jon Thorne, and cellist Nathaniel Boyd -- had already conceived the idea of a larger chamber ensemble when they saw a large circular window at church where they were performing. The early evening sun was streaming through the window, which, they learned, was called an oculus, or, in plural, oculi. The quartet members unanimously agreed that they had found the new name for their ensemble, one, as quoted on their website, "that signified our vision of a complete circle of musicians." Violist Simon Tandree, cellist Pau Codina, and double bassist Stacey Watton were added to the ensemble, which performs music for ensembles ranging from string duo and trio to the full septet. The Oculi Ensemble has performed music from Haydn and Mozart to Anton Webern. The group had a busy schedule in 2018 and 2019, making appearances at such important venues as Imperial College, London, the Stamford Arts Centre, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The Oculi Ensemble toured Israel in the summer of 2019. The Badke Quartet had a four-album discography featuring releases devoted to the music of Brahms and Mozart, Poulenc, Mendelssohn, and a combination of Haydn, Britten, and Thomas Tomkins. The Oculi Ensemble made its recording debut in 2021 on the boutique label Champs Hill with Metamorphosen: Strauss Chamber Works; the album featured a newly realized version of the original septet conception by Strauss of the 23-instrument title work.
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