The London Accordion Orchestra (previously the Morley Accordion Orchestra) came to life in 1999 with the aim of promoting and performing compositions for accordion orchestra, as well as to develop players of the instrument. The main orchestra focuses on playing original repertoire and commissions composers to write new works specifically for the London Accordion Orchestra.

In May 2013 the orchestra performed at the World Music Festival in Innsbruck, Austria. 2014 saw the orchestra host two foreign ensembles for concerts in London: Torkest from the Netherlands at the Dutch Church in London and the Nuremberg Accordion Orchestra at St. John’s Smith Square. In 2015, the orchestra staged a joint concert with the Wiesbaden accordion orchestra from Germany at St. Gabriel’s church in Pimlico, London and was also invited to perform at the National Theatre as part of its 2015 concert series.

In 2016, the orchestra returned to the World Music Festival in Innsbruck Austria and achieved 2nd place in the advanced orchestra category, performing specially commissioned works from contemporary British composers, including Matthew Scott, Stuart Hancock and Ian Watson.

The orchestra is keen to promote an international exchange between accordion orchestras and was delighted to host the Castletown Accordion Orchestra from Ireland as part of a joint concert at the London Irish Centre in London in July 2016.

Their latest album Flight, which was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios, is out on Sotones Records on 10th March 2017.

“They do make a marvellous sound.” – Sarah Walker, BBC Radio 3