"I got tired of knowing two years in advance what pieces I would be playing" says cellist Julia Morneweg who, after more than ten years of touring all over the UK, Europe and as far afield as China with her highly successful piano trio, decided it was time for a fresh, more spontaneous, approach to concerts, away from the highly organised business of chamber concert series that plan their seasons years in advance.

Her inspiration came from an unlikely source: a passionate foodie, Julia, like many others, enjoys the weekly delivery of her veg box and particularly the element of surprise therein. She says: "You never know exactly what is going to be inside, you just know it will be fantastic fresh produce. It encourages you to try out new things all the time." "If it works for veg, it can work for music" was her mantra and thus ChamberMusicBox was born, a series of chamber concerts delivered to the audience without them having any idea of the programme until the musicians actually walk onstage and announce what they are going to play.

Finding other top players to join in the fun wasn't difficult. Both Julia and her partner, Russian violinist Yuri Kalnits, enjoy successful careers that regularly see them working with leading orchestras and playing chamber music with superb musicians from all over Europe, so their circle of like-minded friends is large.

What started as an idea in mid-2015 finally came to life last January when the first ChamberMusicBox series commenced at Burgh House in Hampstead with a roster of sixteen players. "Each concert features a variety of instrument combinations" says Julia, "so instead of sitting through a whole string quartet recital you might be treated to a romantic violin or cello sonata, a French woodwind trio, and a larger work for wind and strings all in the same concert.

It's never boring and you can be sure to discover something new, whether you are a chamber music enthusiast or have never been to a classical concert before."

The series quickly gained popularity and, encouraged by the enthusiastic audience reception, Julia and Yuri decided it was time to branch out to 'their' side of the river and find a second venue near their Clapham home. They quickly found their perfect match: Fresh Ground London, a church and social-enterprise venue on Battersea Rise that matches the ethos of ChamberMusicBox down to the ground. Literally. "It's inviting, informal and inclusive, and the hall has a great acoustic" says Julia for whom informality and inclusivity are at the heart of what ChamberMusicBox is all about.

"From the very outset it was clear to me that the concerts should be free admission for children and the response to that has been absolutely fantastic." The scheme got a big boost recently when the prestigious Cavatina Chamber Music Trust lent their support by subsiding tickets for young concert-goers up to the age of 25.

The Battersea series launches at Fresh Ground on 29 January at 2.30pm, with subsequent dates on 23 April, 02 July and 08 October. Full details are available on www.chambermusicbox.com and tickets can be ordered through www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Based on information supplied by .