Looking to make a difference in the way classical music is consumed, Vocatio:Responsio is a project-based ensemble working in the University of Oxford currently directed by Merseyside-based violinist Samuel Oliver-Sherry, currently in the third year of his undergraduate music degree at St Anne's College.
The ensemble operates on intensive rehearsal weekends spread throughout the University of Oxford's term calendar, culminating in high-quality concerts that challenge the detached stigma of classical music performers in relation to their audiences.
As a performing ensemble, Vocatio:Responsio’s main emphasis is on devising unique and compelling programmes that invite audiences to engage with wider musicological discourse within the familiar context of a performance setting.
With its Latin name literally translating to 'Call:Response', the aim is to break the staunch barrier between performer and audience, creating an informal space for anyone to join in with musical discussion and immerse themselves as part of the concert experience.
Vocatio:Responsio are ultimately committed to making classical concerts accessible to all, while also encouraging its audiences to think critically about the music they're listening to, no matter their experience.
With cheap concert tickets (£4 for all), the ensemble believes that anyone should be able to enjoy and appreciate classical music, with the ensemble aiming to give that space to everyone in its audience.
