About Arundo5
We are Arundo5, five British musicians brought together by a shared fascination with the distinctive sound and possibilities of the reed quintet.
Our instruments — oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bass clarinet and bassoon — may seem very different, but they all use reeds and are part of one musical family. What excites us is the way those contrasting voices come together, creating a sound that is warm, vibrant and remarkably versatile.
FIVE MUSICIANS, A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE
Between us, we have performed with leading orchestras in the UK and internationally, appeared in major West End and touring productions, and worked across chamber music, jazz, popular music, recording, radio and television.
Our different musical backgrounds are part of what makes Arundo5 what it is. They shape the way we play together, the repertoire we choose and arrange, and the way we communicate with audiences.
Meet Arundo5
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Manon Lewis
Oboe
Born in Wales and now based in the North West, Manon performs on oboe and cor anglais with leading UK orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Hallé. Her career also includes national tours of major productions such as Wicked, Les Misérables and The King and I. Further afield, she spent six years as Principal Oboe with the Macao Orchestra and regularly performed with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. A keen gardener, when not making music Manon is happiest walking the hills or with her hands in the soil.
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Stuart Eminson
Clarinet
Stuart’s wonderfully varied career has taken him from the principal clarinet chair of the Symphony Orchestra of India to performances with major UK orchestras, West End productions and artists including Shirley Bassey and Girls Aloud. He has recorded for BBC Radio 1, 2 and 3 and appeared on television, while his musical adventures have also included performing with These New Puritans at Glastonbury Festival. Stuart studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he won prizes in solo recital and chamber music. Away from the clarinet, his other great passion is interior design.
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Toby Kelly
Saxophone
Toby studied saxophone with Simon Haram and John Harle at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating with first-class honours and a distinction in performance. Since then he has built a wide-ranging freelance career spanning orchestral playing, music theatre and chamber music, working with many of the UK’s leading orchestras and performing around the world. A former winner of the Royal Over-Seas League Chamber Music Prize, Toby particularly enjoys chamber music and making music with friends. Away from the saxophone, he is also a qualified yoga teacher.
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Jess Tomlinson
Bass Clarinet
Jess is a Manchester-based clarinet and saxophone player whose career spans orchestral, theatre, commercial and community music. Her performing work has included Oliver! at Leeds Playhouse, the JAMES orchestral album tour, and engagements with the BBC Philharmonic, Up North Session Orchestra and British Sinfonietta. Alongside performing, Jess has a particular passion for making music engaging and accessible, working extensively in music for health and education. Her work includes projects with Live Music Now, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and SEND schools across the North West.
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Howard Dann
Bassoon
Howard specialises in the French bassoon, a rarity in the UK, and has a particular interest in historical performance. He has performed with ensembles including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and Monteverdi Chamber Orchestra. His extensive opera experience includes principal bassoon at Glyndebourne and Opéra de Baugé, as well as touring with English Touring Opera. An accomplished chamber musician, Howard is a previous winner of the Tunnell Trust Award and Emerson Launchpad Prize. He studied with Steve Marsden and the internationally renowned bassoonist Martin Gatt.
DISTINCTIVE SOUND,
GROWING REPERTOIRE
Much of our repertoire is created within the ensemble. Drawing on our different musical backgrounds, we arrange and adapt music ranging from Ravel, Brahms and Albéniz to jazz, theatre and contemporary works, exploring the subtle blends and striking contrasts of these five reed instruments.
We also develop new music through collaborations with composers. With Nigel Wood’s permission, we have created reed quintet versions of Schwarzer Tänzer and Man-Mou, the latter at his suggestion after hearing us perform. In 2026, we premiered Craic, written for us by composer Benjamin Ellin.
Alongside our concerts, we have led chamber-music coaching and workshops for De Mowbray Music. As the ensemble develops, so does the repertoire we offer — through our own arrangements, collaborations and music written especially for us.