North Sea Radio Orchestra at St John on Bethnal Green

Composer and guitarist Craig Fortnam formed the orchestra, known as NSRO, in 2002. The group began by rehearsing and performing in old churches in the City Of London. Its sound draws on strings, wind, percussion, organs, guitars and voices.

Since then NSRO have played churches, clubs, Freakzone sessions, festivals, opera houses and libraries. They have released six albums, including 'Special Powers'. Kate Arnold was classically trained on violin and vocals.

She now builds her work around the hammered dulcimer and strings, using live-looping and real-time electronic effects. Her two-part electro-medieval album was released in 2020-21. She recently completed a full-time PhD on Old French song and Arabic poetry of the 12th and 13th centuries, and is working on her next album.