"It was a delight to have Sirocco Winds in Orkney... the audience were certainly very appreciative of the performance and the varied programme - and the workshop at Stromness Primary School the following morning was described by the PT of Expressive Arts as 'fabulous'. We'd be very happy to invite the group back in the future."
Glenys Hughes, Orkney Arts Society, November 2025
"It was a lovely evening and there were so many positive comments from the audience. It was a great programme, a nice mix of familiar and less familiar pieces."
Sylvia Munro, Music in Inverurie, November 2025
"....how much we enjoyed the concert given by Sirocco Winds last night .... a very enthusiastic audience. The ensemble were excellent... lovely having them to stay"
Keswick Music Society 2 November 2024
"It was an absolute joy to witness how the musicians engaged so well with our school children. There were about 60 to 70 children altogether from 3 of our local schools and I’m sure it’ll be one of those experiences the children will remember for a long time – and hopefully be inspired by.
The evening concert was extremely well received. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback. The audience was transfixed throughout. The musicality and panache with which the Sirocco played was of the very highest standard and it was an excellent programme. And such lovely people too!"
Grange over Sands and District Music Society, July 2023
"What a wonderful concert we enjoyed this evening! Virtuosic playing, a varied and interesting programme, lovely young people! Our audience enjoyed that they introduced each item and that each took a turn to do so. The audience left uplifted, full of praise for the quintet.
Sirocco Winds’ visit to West Kilbride Primary School was also a great success. They involved the children who participated with enthusiasm. Approximately 200 children took part, all pupils P4 - P7.... a good day was had by all."
"Sirocco Winds were excellent, both at the Primary School and in the evening. As well as an entertaining and virtuosic repertoire, they communicated very well with both audiences."
Music in West Kilbride, February 2023
"the concert was fabulous - lovely playing, varied repertoire and such engaging fabulous young people."
Junction 50 concerts, Thirsk, September 2022
Sirocco Winds Trio (Matthew, Victoria, Calum)
"Another intriguing and stimulating concert promoted by the Strathearn Music Society (now also going under the banner of “Concerts in Crieff”). ... notable soloists in their own right.... the differing timbres of the individual instruments as from the limitless potential for blend which they offer.....jaunty and/or pastoral were the prevailing moods to begin.... mellow and reflective.... quirky and good-natured .... in scintillating and superbly crafted arrangements .... clear and delightfully enjoyable."
Strathearn Herald: January 2022
Sirocco Winds / wind quintet
Please contact daisy@classicalmusiciansscotland.com for further information or to book Sirocco winds.
Sirocco Winds are a dynamic wind ensemble comprising of Masters graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Although based in Glasgow, its members come from all over the UK and Spain. They were formed in 2012. Successes for the group include winning the Governors’ Recital Prize for Chamber Music at the RCS, playing live on Classic FM, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio Scotland, entertaining guests on the National Trust for Scotland’s cruises in 2017 and 2018, and performing in prestigious music festivals including the St Magnus International Festival, the Cumnock Tryst and Aberdeen International Youth Festival. They work as both a wind quintet and a wind trio (flute, clarinet and bassoon). As a wind trio, they have been chosen as semi-finalists for the Royal Overseas League Chamber Competition and were
accepted on to Live Music Now Scotland whose work includes carrying out educational workshops such as specialist sessions at Donaldson’s School for hard of hearing children and the Royal Blind School, Edinburgh.
Individually, members of the group have worked with orchestras and ensembles such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Opera North, the BBC Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.
Matthew Howells, flute, is a Masters graduate from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland after receiving a scholarship in 2012 to study there with Katherine Bryan (Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra), Richard Blake (Principal, Scottish Opera) and Janet Richardson (Piccolo, RSNO). Previously, Matthew studied at the University of Manchester and Chetham’s School of Music where he studied with Linda Verrier and Richard Davis (BBC Philharmonic).
Whilst at Chetham’s, Matthew played principal flute in the Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra allowing him to perform at prestigious music venues such as the Bridgewater Hall and Cadogan Hall. He also played in a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3 for Chetham’s 40th Anniversary Concert. At the end of his final year, he was awarded the Francis Willink Memorial Prize for his flute studies.
Whilst in Manchester, Matthew performed Schwertsik’s Instant Music as a concerto soloist with the University Chamber Ensemble and since then, he has performed three further concerti, two at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and a premiere of a new work with the Edinburgh Contemporary Ensemble.
Since graduating, Matthew has performed with orchestras across the UK including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, including a tour to India in 2014. Matthew has also appeared as a soloist on BBC’s Songs of Praise in 2015. More recently, he has also taken up a regular teaching position at Erskine Stewart’s Melville School in Edinburgh, alongside private tuition in Glasgow.
He also has a passion for musical theatre and works regularly in the Glasgow scene as a performer as well as a musical director for companies including Acquire: A Creative Choral Ensemble, Glasgow Music Theatre and Glasgow Live Productions.
Irena Klimach, oboe, is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she received her MMus, having previously been awarded a 1st Class BMus degree from the Royal Northern College of Music. Whilst at the RCS, Irena won both the Governor’s Solo Recital Prize for Woodwind and the Concerto Competition, as well as receiving critical acclaim in the Glasgow Herald for her solo performance of the James Macmillan In Angustiis II, which was described as “an emotional arrow straight to the heart”. Irena finished her studies at the RCS with a performance of the Martinů Oboe Concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), and was invited back to perform the Strauss Oboe Concerto with the RCS Symphony Orchestra. As well as being a keen chamber musician, Irena loves playing in orchestras and freelances with the RSNO, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet. Irena also loves working with young people and teaches in North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire Council in addition to tutoring at the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland.
Calum Robertson is an Edinburgh-based clarinettist, organist, and choral conductor. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he freelances with various orchestras including Opera North, The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic. He is also a member of the soprano and clarinet duo with Sally Carr known as The White Rose Ensemble whose primary aim is to promote Scottish classical music. He has won numerous awards including TheHarriet Cohen Memorial Award which allowed him to commission a new work for clarinet and choir by Scottish composer Claire McCue, who set the poem Kneeling by Welsh poet and priest, R.S.Thomas. As organist, Calum was appointed Organ Scholar in 2007 and then Assistant Director of Music at Old Saint Paul’s in 2013. Since September 2018 he has been director of The Edinburgh University Singers. Calum has commissioned and premiered many works including, Un Petit Psaultier by Sheena Phillips, ‘What’s for you’ by Jennifer Martin, Recollections by John Hearne, Reed Talk and Five Soutar Songs by Rory Boyle.
Victoria López started learning bassoon at the age of eight, completing a total of nine years of Juniors Conservatoire in her hometown of Ávila in Spain. At 17, she moved to Cardiff to study her Bachelors in bassoon at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she graduated in July 2015. She then moved to Glasgow where she completed a Masters Degree in performance at the RCS graduating in July 2017.
Victoria has performed with many orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Ballet, HM Royal Marines Band and Opra Cymru. She also performs regularly as part of two chamber music ensembles, Sirocco Winds and Genovia Quartet.
Aside from performing, Victoria enjoys sharing her passion for music with children so that she can inspire them the way she was inspired when she was young. She started her teaching journey in 2018, working as a bassoon tutor for Queen Victoria School (Dunblane). She is currently teaching for Renfrewshire Music Services, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (deputy bassoon tutor at the juniors department) and for Sistema Scotland, as the Double Reed instructor of Big Noise Raploch (Stirling). Victoria also enjoys participating in a lot of musical outreach and community projects with Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Peter McNeill, french horn, grew up in a musical family on the outskirts of Edinburgh, and later become a junior student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He subsequently gained a place to study full time and went on to win various recital and chamber music prizes, graduating with a First-Class Bachelor’s degree in 2020. Peter also took part in an Erasmus exchange at the Weimar Collegeof Music, Germany, studying with Jörg Brückner, and now undertakes further study with Markus Maskuniitty at the Hanover College of Music, Media and the Arts. From 2024 to 2026 he will hold the horn academy position with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, where he is a regular guest and takes part in many projects and tours with the orchestra. Solo performances have included winning 1st Prize in the Yamaha Dublin Brass Week Concerto Competition, and invitations to give recitals at the Edinburgh International Festival and the University of Aberdeen. As an orchestral musician, Peter has frequently guested with ensembles such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, and was part of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s Experience scheme. With a keen interest in chamber music, alongside Sirocco Winds, he founded brass trio Triquetra Brass and regularly performs recitals with both across the UK.
Performances
11:30am, Saturday 16 January 2027 (trio): Bearsden South Church
7.30pm, Saturday 30 January 2027: Carradale
3pm, Sunday 31 January 2027: Newton Stewart and District Music Society, Wigtown
7.30pm, Saturday 13 March 2027: Northleach, Cotswolds
1.30pm, Tuesday 14 December 2027: Brunton Bite-sized Concerts at Northesk Church, Musselburgh
7.30pm Thursday 16 December 2027: Music in Peebles, Eastgate Theatre
7.30pm, Thursday 18 December 2025: Eastgate Theatre, Peebles
7.30pm, Saturday 15 November 2025, Music in Ayr
7.30pm, Saturday 8 November 2025, Inverurie Music
7.30pm, Thursday 6 November 2025, Orkney Arts Society
7.30pm, Wednesday 5 November 2025, Thurso West Church
7.30pm, Saturday 2 November 2024, Keswick Music Society
7.30pm, Tuesday 29 October 2024, Lanark Memorial Hall, A Night at the Opera
7.30pm, Friday 25 October 2024, MacArts, Galashiels, A Night at the Opera
7.30pm, Thursday 24 October 2024, North Esk, Musselburgh, A Night at the Opera
7.30pm, Sunday 13 October 2024, Crail Community Hall, A Night at the Opera
1pm, Saturday 23 March 2024, Spire concert series, Glasgow
2.30pm, Sunday 25 February 2024, Biggar Municipal Hall
7.30pm, Tuesday 13 February 2024, Cockermouth
morning and afternoon, Thursday 12 October 2023, Music in Lanark education workshops
2.30pm, Thursday 17 August 2023, Ross Priory (private event)
7.30pm, Friday 7 July 2023, Grange over Sands and District Concert Club, Victoria Hall, Main Street, Grange over Sands, Cumbria: morning workshops, evening concert
Past Performances
St Boswells, Spire concert series in Glasgow, Dumfries, Garnethill, Bearsden, Oban, Catstrand, Ross Priory, Royal Faculty of Procurators Glasgow concert series, Music in Paxton, National Trust for Scotland cruises, Balerno, Dunfermline, Wigtown, Lake District Summer Music, Cumbria, Edinburgh, St Conan’s, Juniper Green, Westbourne Music Society, Kirkharle, Gatehouse of Fleet, Falkirk, Bute, Ayr, Dunoon, Crieff, Dollar, Stranraer, Thirsk, West Kilbride
