Souza Winds were formed in 2005 whilst all members were studying at the Royal Northern College of Music. Since then they have gained an enviable reputation for outstanding musicianship, exciting collaborations, inspiring educational work and engaging recitals.

In June 2009 they were awarded the inaugural June Emerson Wind Music Launchpad Prize. Preceding this they were semi-finalists of the 2008 Royal Overseas League Annual Music Competition and were invited to participate in the Tunnel Trust’s Blair Athol 2008 Showcase.

Since their inception they have worked closely with living composers; commissioning new works from colleagues in Manchester, including works for Wind Quintet and Live electronics. After a performance of Colin Matthews Five Concertinos for Wind Quintet they were invited to work with Colin and perform the work at the Bridgewater Hall.

Concert performances and broadcasts have seen Souza Winds perform throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Portugal. Recent performances have been for Scunthorpe & North Lincolnshire Concert Society, North Cumbria Recitals, Ripon International Festival, Friends of Walton Hall Music, Colchester Institute Concert Series, Royal Northern College of Music Woodwind Day, Music@home, Skipton Music, Tameside Council, Chorlton Arts Festival, Didsbury Arts Festival, Lake District Summer Music, Funchal 500 Anos Festival, WACIDOM. The Nottingham post describing their recital as displaying “a masterly show of instrumental playing.”

In July 2009 they were invited to collaborate with Jazz Double Bassist and composer Matt Owens. This led to the critically acclaimed performance of ten in the 2009 Manchester Jazz Festival.

Since 2009, Souza Winds have performed over 130 workshops and masterclasses across the North of England. The majority of this work was undertaken for the musical charities Live Music Now and Music in Hospitals. Three members of the Souza Winds have subsequently been invited to be musicians in residence three of the regions Specialist Schools.

All of Souza Winds have performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Manchester Camerata. Members have undertaken trial periods with the Hallé Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera North. They have also performed with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Lancashire Sinfonietta, Welsh Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble 1010, Northern Ballet Sinfonia and Sinfonia Cymru.

Future recitals include performances for Classic Music Live! Falkirk, Didsbury Arts Festival 2011, Darlington Music Society and a return visit to Carlisle to perform for North Cumbria Recitals. The quintet will also be performing for the Manchester Mid-Day Concert Society at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.

Souza Winds are:
Carla Sousa – Flute
David Benfield – Oboe
Lucy Rugman – Clarinet
Lucy Keyes – Bassoon
Jonathan Harris – Horn