Nicholas Daniel's long and distinguished career began when, at the age of 18, he won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition and went on to win further competitions in Europe. At his debut at the BBC Proms in 1992 the Sunday Times described him as one of the greatest exponents of the oboe in the world. Today one of the UK's most distinguished soloists as well as an increasingly successful conductor, he has become an important ambassador for music and musicians in many different fields.

Nicholas has been heard on every continent, and has been a concerto soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras and conductors, working under conductors such as Sir Roger Norrington, Oliver Knussen, Richard Hickox and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. He is an important force in the creation and performance of new repertoire for oboe, and has premiered works by composers including Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Henri Dutilleux, Thea Musgrave, Nigel Osborne, John Tavener and Sir Michael Tippett. Since his debut at the Promenade Concerts, he has appeared in this series on several occasions including the world premiere of John Woolrich's Oboe Concerto, which was commissioned by the BBC. In 2003 he played Thea Musgrave's Helios, written especially for him, and made his conducting debut at the Proms in 2004 in the Chamber series with the Britten Sinfonia.

An active chamber musician, Nicholas is a founder member of the Haffner Wind Ensemble and enjoys a long history of collaboration with the pianist Julius Drake and the Maggini and Lindsay string quartets.
As a conductor, Nicholas has worked with orchestras in the UK and abroad, and is Associate Artistic Director of the Britten Sinfonia. He is also Artistic Director of the Leicester International Festival, and teaches in the UK and in Germany.

Huw Watkins has appeared at the Music Club on several occasions, with Emma Johnson and Alexandra Wood. He has performed at the Wigmore Hall and on the South bank. He is also well known as a composer where he has had remarkable success. His concerto for cello and viola was well-received at the Proms in 2005.

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