City String Ensemble is a versatile string ensemble based in London. Originally formed at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, CSE has gone on to grow from a highly sought-after string quartet to a full-scale string orchestra and can be seen regularly performing multiple programmes of "candlelight concerts" across London, as well as recording and releasing their very own classical twists on popular songs.

Since 2016, they have been performing across London and the UK, establishing themselves as the ensemble of choice for many award ceremonies, celebrity parties and special events. Most notably, CSE recently performed at the world premiere of Bridgerton (2020) Season 2 in London.

This versatile group of classically-trained string musicians has re-imagined some of their favourite and most iconic songs, challenging the preconceptions of what classical musicians and classical instruments are capable of. They released their debut EP, "Twenty Twenty," in 2020 before following up with their second EP, "Throwback...to the Millennium" in 2021. Their most recent release in 2022, "Best of Anime," is a collection of some of the most famous anime opening songs and was inspired by their sold-out run of anime concerts last year. City String Ensemble's music can regularly be heard on Scala Radio UK.

As an ensemble, City String Ensemble strives to break down the boundaries between classical performance and "popular" genres of music and write arrangements that are completely true to the original songs. A unique feature of CSE's performances is their ability to acoustically create their own drum beat during the music. This beat helps to replicate the original songs' energy while maintaining the ensemble's classical roots.

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City String Ensemble

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