Bach’s orchestra in Leipzig, the Collegium, gave two types of concert — ordinaire and extraordinaire. The latter was normally a paid concert, often in a church, by a chamber orchestra, performing concerti and cantatas by Bach and his contemporaries.

Named after these musical gatherings, Extraordinaire was formed in 2001 from students and graduates of both music and medicine as a non-profit-making ensemble. The inaugural concert, which took place at the church of St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate in April 2001, included instrumental works by Handel, Vivaldi and Bach, culminating in Bach’s 2nd Brandenburg concerto.

Under the directorship of Sebastian Dawson-Bowling, Extraordinaire continue to perform 2-3 times a year in various venues around London, performing a range of repertoire from chamber music to larger scale choral works.

Our ongoing aim is to bring alive the great works of the Baroque era.