The
Oculi Ensemble is a flexible seven-member group that is capable of performing a variety of repertory. It is an offshoot of the Badke Quartet, with the members of that quartet at its core.
The
Oculi Ensemble was formed in early 2016 and acquired its name as the Badke Quartet was touring in South Florida in February of that year. The quartet's members -- violinist Charlotte Scott and
Emma Parker, violist
Jon Thorne, and cellist
Nathaniel Boyd -- had already conceived the idea of a larger chamber ensemble when they saw a large circular window at church where they were performing. The early evening sun was streaming through the window, which, they learned, was called an oculus, or, in plural, oculi. The quartet members unanimously agreed that they had found the new name for their ensemble, one, as quoted on their website, "that signified our vision of a complete circle of musicians." Violist Simon Tandree, cellist Pau Codina, and double bassist
Stacey Watton were added to the ensemble, which performs music for ensembles ranging from string duo and trio to the full septet. The
Oculi Ensemble has performed music from
Haydn and
Mozart to Anton Webern. The group had a busy schedule in 2018 and 2019, making appearances at such important venues as Imperial College, London, the Stamford Arts Centre, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The
Oculi Ensemble toured Israel in the summer of 2019.
The Badke Quartet had a four-album discography featuring releases devoted to the music of Brahms and Mozart, Poulenc, Mendelssohn, and a combination of Haydn, Britten, and Thomas Tomkins. The
Oculi Ensemble made its recording debut in 2021 on the boutique label Champs Hill with
Metamorphosen: Strauss Chamber Works; the album featured a newly realized version of the original septet conception by
Strauss of the 23-instrument title work.