The Magnificent Archive of
The London Gypsy Orchestra (LGO) was a beautiful community of musicians and dancers who poured their hearts and souls into exploring and sharing the rich, vibrant music of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. This ensemble was a true family, a stunning mix of spirited amateurs and seasoned professionals all united by a shared love for a sound that stirs the spirit and moves the soul.
From its founding in 2005 to the end of its golden years around 2015, every beat of the orchestra's heart was a result of Gundula Stojanova Gruen's vision and direction. She was the driving force behind the LGO, not only as its founder and director but also as its soul. She created all the magical orchestral arrangements from her extensive fieldwork, teaching each piece by ear with a fiery passion and helping the musicians involved explore and master incredible musical skills with love, passion and strong dedication. Beyond the music, she was the artistic project creator, organizer, and tireless facilitator who brought every single concert, workshop, and collaboration to life.
For those in the audience, the LGO offered a visceral, life-changing experience. Their high-energy performances created strong emotional reactions that went far beyond getting toes tapping, leaving an unforgettable mark on every heart. For its members, the LGO was an incredible community and a home. Their shared mission to preserve and share this music became a testament to the power of human connection, showing that through concerts, workshops, and collaborations, music can build a beautiful legacy for everyone involved.
2005
January '05: The London Gypsy Orchestra is formed - London, UK
The very beginning of a musical adventure, with rehearsals led by Gundula Gruen.
13th Nov '05: Gypsy Campfire Jam - Le Quecumbar, Battersea
An informal and fun jam session led by Gundula Gruen, bringing great music to Battersea.
3rd Dec '05: Chatsworth Market Festival - Chatsworth Market, London
Our first public performance, a huge success that drew an enthusiastic crowd despite the bitter cold.
4th Dec '05: Highbury Roundhouse - Highbury, London
Our first formal concert, a wonderfully successful evening of music and dancing with friends.
6th Dec '05: Fundraising event - The Yacht Club, London
A unique and whimsical performance on a boat moored on the Thames, a novel setting for our growing group.
2006
12th Feb '06: Gypsy Campfire Jam - Le Quecumbar, London
A return to this Gypsy Jazz venue for our second jam session, with amazing musical and artistic direction by Gundula Gruen.
30th Mar '06: 'Finding Romanistan' - Genesis Cinema, London
The LGO’s first cinematic moment, as we performed at the lively closing night of this film festival.
21st May '06: Radio Gagarin - Notting Hill Arts Club, London
A soul-stirring performance that ignited the dance floor at this popular club night.
18th Jun '06: Roma Rokker Radio show - BBC Three Counties Radio
A fun live broadcast, playing for a global audience and sharing our stories on air.
7th Jul '06: Summer Concert and Gyspy Ceilidh - Dragon Hall, London
A beautifully organized and sold-out concert and ceilidh, with an enthusiastic reception from the crowd.
16th Jul '06: Lambeth Country Show - Brockwell Park, London
A joyful and electrifying performance for a vast and wonderfully varied sea of people under the summer sun.
22nd Sep '06: Eltham College - Eltham, London
A joyful concert that was met with enormous enthusiasm from students experiencing Gypsy music for the very first time.
18th Nov '06: Gypsy & Balkan Campfire Jam Session and Ceilidh - St Pauls Church Centre, London
A collaborative, joyful ceilidh joined by many musicians and the London Georgian Choir.
2007
7th Mar '07: Resonance FM radio - Resonance FM Studio, London
A fantastic time squeezing into the studio to play a live set for this very popular radio show.
10th Mar '07: 'East Meets West' night - Inn on the Green, London
A wonderful evening of music and dancing at this great venue with a perfect dance floor.
11th Mar ’07: The Kennedy Hall - Cecil Sharp House, Camden
A monumental, breathtaking concert that filled the historic Kennedy Hall to capacity (more than 450 attendants), a true test and a milestone that proved just how Gundula has developed the orchestra. Learn more about this incredible night here.
27th Apr '07: 'A Long(ing) Journey Across Europe' - SOAS, London
A lively and energetic concert that packed the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre with over 300 students and staff.
9th May '07: European Cultural Conference - Tate Modern, London
We had the honour of performing for esteemed culture ministers on Europe Day, celebrating Eastern European culture.
13th May '07: Gypsy Jam Session and Balkan Ceilidh - Favela Chic, London
The LGO hosted this lively event, which featured many instrumentalists and open mic performances.
26th May '07: Dorchester Festival - Maumbury Rings, Dorset
A memorable performance in the sculptural 'Big White Tent', bringing our Gypsy spirit to an ancient setting.
18th Jun '07: Alternatives Summer Solstice Celebration - St James Church, London
We brought our music to this special solstice event, which was followed by some of the most enthusiastic dancing we had ever seen.
14th Jul '07: 'East Meets West' night - Inn on the Green, London
Our second show at this venue, where we received a great reception from all, including one very enthusiastic baby!
29th Sep '07: Molten Diversity Arts Festival Launch Party - Broadway Theatre, Barking
We had a fantastic afternoon performing at this arts festival, where we were joined by dancer Beverley Joffe.
30th Sep '07: Gypsy Jam Session and Balkan Ceilidh - Favela Chic, London
A joyous all-playing, all-dancing event in a sumptuous venue, led by our special guests.
4th Oct '07: The Romanian Restaurant - London
A very busy and fun evening where the audience enjoyed lively music and delicious Romanian food.
20th Oct '07: Brunswick Centre - Bloomsbury Festival, London
A playful set and Balkan dances from a huge balcony, bringing our music to the streets below.
7th Nov '07: Resonance FM radio - Resonance FM Studio, London
Gundula, Nick, and Evrah had a wonderful time sharing music that inspires the LGO on this special british radio show.
10th Nov '07: Union Chapel - Union Chapel, London
The LGO’s monumental, show-stopping concert at the Union Chapel was a truly magical night and a pivotal event of music and artistry. Learn more about this beautiful event here.
8th Dec '07: Carling Academy - Oxford
A great turnout at this popular music venue, with a wonderful workshop for fiddle players beforehand led by Gundula.
2008
13th Jan '08: Gypsy Jam and Balkan Ceilidh - Favela Chic, London
The LGO’s lively New Year jam and dance, featuring Romanian tunes and dances.
17th Feb '08: "A Dance through the Magic Forest" Family Concert - Cecil Sharp House, London
A special children's concert filled with whimsical magic and directed by Gundula Gruen
13th Jun '08: Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month Concert -
Blackheath Concert Halls, London
An acclaimed concert celebrating Gypsy Roma Traveller history and culture, showcasing Gundula's orchestral arrangements in an elegant, renowned London venue.
14th Jun '08: Pulse Festival - South Bank, London
A high-energy afternoon performance at this major Central and Eastern European outdoor festival, delivering LGO's vibrant repertoire to the South Bank audience.
14th Jun '08: Music Club Night - St Gabriels Church, Wanstead
An immersive Balkan Music concert featuring high audience engagement, noted for spontaneous dancing and community participation in this East London venue.
26th Oct '08: Molten Diversity Arts Festival - Broadway Theatre, Barking
A powerful World Music performance directed by Gundula Gruen, at a major Diversity Arts Festival, featuring a celebrated collaboration with professional belly dancer Cynthia.
5th Dec '08: Dance Mush Launch Party - Brixton, London
Featured guest artists for the launch of a new club night, successfully injecting LGO's unique Eastern European sound into the South London club scene.
Special mention to the launch of our first album as the London Gypsy Orchestra!
13th Dec '08: 'West Meets East' night - Inn on the Green, London
A successful, lively return to this popular venue, delivering a high-energy "West Meets East" party experience focused on Balkan dance music, masterfully directed by Gundula Gruen.
2009
25th Jan '09: St George's - Bristol
We kicked off the year with a triumphant, sold-out concert in this splendid setting. The incredibly enthusiastic reception from the Bristol audience proved that the LGO dream was soaring.
25th Mar '09: Passport Radio Show- SW1 Radio Studio, London
A wonderful highlight as Gundula and five members represented the LGO on 'Passport'. It was a joy to share our sound on such a respected World Music show.
29th Mar '09: Ajde Gadje! Album Launch Celebration - Cecil Sharp House, London
An amazing all-day event celebrating our new album, an artistic project directed by Gundula Gruen.
24th May '09: Notting Hill Mayfest - St John's Church, Holland Park
We were honored to play the closing night of this wonderful festival. St John’s is a magnificent, grand space, and it was incredible to feel the huge church echoing with our colorful sounds.
16th Jun '09: Passport Radio Show Special - SW1 Radio Studio, London
A return to the airwaves for a special show dedicated to Gypsy music. We loved the opportunity to play live and share the stories behind the songs that move us.
19th Jun '09: Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month Concert - Blackheath Halls, London
A deeply emotional evening celebrating the heritage that defines us. We felt immense pride representing the music of the Roma people, who were the core inspiration for Gundula to form the London Gypsy Orchestra.
16th Jul '09: Turkish State Television - London
Our reach extended internationally as a group from the LGO was featured in a documentary film. It was a proud moment sharing our music and rehearsal process with a whole new global audience.
12th Sep '09: Gyspy Roma Traveller Music Night - St Gabriel's, London
A beautiful return to this soulful venue. We celebrated Gypsy Roma culture with a performance full of fire and heart, honoring the roots of our musical journey.
27th Sep '09: Balkan Barry's Big Sunday Out - East London
We were invited to this first-of-its-kind procession through the streets of East London. It was a day of whimsical musical chaos and pure, spontaneous street-side joy.
8th Oct '09: Goodenough College - Bloomsbury, London
Music with a mission: we performed at this special fundraising event to support a vital project for Roma children in Romania.
31st Oct '09: 'Balkan Bats and Devils' Fiddles: Halloween Party
We embraced the spooky season with a theatrical flair! This night of spooky sounds and dramatic tango was a dark, mystic celebration conceived entirely by Gundula Gruen.
6th Nov '09: Folk on the Move - Coronation Hall, Ulverston
Gundula was honored to receive this massive commission, our biggest yet! The performance was a spectacular triumph, culminating in the LGO performing alongside 60 singers from local choirs in a magnificent theatre hall.
7th Nov '09: Mansfield College Ball - Oxford
A smaller LGO lineup brought the magic to Oxford, performing in a dramatic chapel for a 'Circus of the Macabre' themed ball. It was a perfect setting for our more mysterious and show-stopping arrangements.
27th-28th Nov '09: Farklı Kültür- Ayne Müzik - Turkish State Television
We were featured on this Turkish music program to discuss the deep Turkish connections within the London music scene, sharing our sounds and stories across the miles.
2010
7th Mar '10: Cycle East - Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, London
The LGO Professional Ensemble played three fantastic concerts in one afternoon, a unique event conceived and organized by Gundula Gruen.
9th Mar '10: BBC World Service - London
We were honored to perform live on the World Service's Russian Program, sharing our music with a new global audience.
10th Mar '10: Cultural-Co-operation radio show - Resonance FM, London
Gundula and members of the orchestra joined the show to share the LGO story and build the buzz for our upcoming Opa Cupa! festival. It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss our music and mission on such an influential, avant-garde station.
20th Mar '10: Opa Cupa! - Cecil Sharp House, London
This all-day event celebrating Serbian music and dance was a thrilling and vibrant collaboration with the Živko Firfov dance group, directed by Gundula Gruen.
23rd May '10: Notting Hill Mayfest - St John's Church, Notting Hill
We were delighted to return to this wonderful festival to perform the grand finale!
It was another unforgettable night, where our vibrant sounds filled the vast, majestic space of the church, creating a truly atmospheric and memorable experience for everyone.
13th Jun '10: Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month Concert - Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford
We were proud to share the stage at the Kenneth More Theatre with many talented performers, honoring the Roma musical heritage that continues to be Gundula’s primary inspiration for the orchestra.
24th Jun '10: Golowan Festival - The Ritz, Penzance
The LGO Professional Ensemble played a brilliant concert for a great audience of enthusiastic dancers.
3rd Jul '10: Private Party - Newnham Paddox Estate, West Midlands
We performed at a private party in the historic, landscaped grounds of this beautiful estate.
25th Jul '10: Rhythms of the World Festival - Hitchin Priory, Herts
A true summer highlight! A smaller, focused lineup took to the main stage of this delightful festival, performing intricate and beautiful Balkan arrangements for such a massive, sun-drenched crowd, which was an exhilarating experience.
17th Oct '10: Halesworth Arts Festival - Suffolk
The autumn brought us to the Cut Arts Centre for a magnificent sold-out concert. There is no feeling quite like a packed house where the connection between the audience and the performers is purely electric!
6th Nov '10: The Tabernacle Arts Centre - Notting Hill
The full LGO filled the stunning space of this converted church. With the whole orchestra in place, the unforgettable atmosphere and rich acoustics of The Tabernacle made our music feel truly transcendent.
21st Nov '10: Double-bill with Tatcho Drom - The Gunnersbury, London
What a night! This double-bill concert was so high-energy and culturally significant that it was filmed for a Serbian TV documentary, capturing the magic of our collaboration for viewers abroad.
5th Dec '10: Balkan Express - London
As the year drew to a close, we kept the spirits high. It was a night purely for the love of the music—filled with lively dancing, great company, and non-stop fun for everyone there.
11th Dec '10: Rich Mix - Shoreditch, London
The LGO Professional Ensemble had a fantastic performance at such an amazing arts centre in the heart of East London, celebrating a year of growth and wonderful memories.
2011
15th Jan '11: Gypsy-It! Project Launch - Round Chapel, London
A magical community gathering to launch our collaborative workshop series alongside Polish Romani virtuoso violinist Marek "Ricardo" Czureja and his guitarist son Benjamin. The energy in the room was electrifying as newcomers jumped headfirst into learning authentic Romani traditions!
4th Feb '11: Concert - Stratford Circus, London
An exciting and energetic concert showcasing our growing ensemble’s stage presence with the full orchestra at this vibrant east London arts centre.
26th Feb '11: Gypsy-It! Project Finale - Round Chapel, London
A deeply moving community celebration organized alongside the Czureja family. It was pure joy watching our workshop participants proudly step into the spotlight to play the intricate Romani ornaments and tunes they had spent weeks mastering.
19th Mar '11: Gypsy Culture Day - Cecil Sharp House, London
An empowering all-day event organized and directed by Gundula, celebrating Gypsy culture through immersive hands-on workshops, music, and shared history.
17th Apr '11: Gypsy Exchange Project Finale - Notting Hill Arts Club, London
Taking over a trendy underground venue, this celebratory showcase featured traditional tunes, dynamic dances, and spectacular handmade costumes — including a traditional skirt with a staggering 20-30-meter flare!
21st Sep '11: 5% Day - Whole Foods, London
A joyful day of spontaneous acoustic pop-ups throughout the store, supported by Whole Foods to raise vital funds that kept our community music learning programs alive and thriving.
8th Oct '11: Children's Concert - Trinity Centre, London
Pure magic for little ears! A heartwarming afternoon combining a whimsical puppet show with live music, introducing wide-eyed young audiences to the rich rhythms and colors of Eastern European instruments.
23rd Oct '11: Dance Around the World - Cecil Sharp House, London
Our Gypsy Dance Group presented a high-energy workshop and performance at this vibrant festival, connecting traditional rhythms directly to movement.
6th Nov '11: Gypsy Extravaganza - Union Chapel, London
One of our most unforgettable nights under the arches of Union Chapel. We proudly premiered Time 8.25 — Gundula’s sweeping, emotional musical composition inspired by Kroke’s Time, woven around Evrah’s breathtaking spoken-word performance on the passage of time.
2012
5th Feb '12: Gypsy Extravaganza - Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford
Braving severe snowstorms by train, we brought our high-energy performance to this elegant domed venue, featuring brilliant dancing and a hilarious wardrobe mishap only those in attendance will remember!
17th Mar '12: Harrow Dance Festival - Harrow, London
Our Gypsy Dance group brought vibrant swirling skirts and live orchestral accompaniment to this spirited all-day world dance celebration.
25th Mar '12: Music Discovery Day - Cecil Sharp House, London
Gundula’s most creative and ambitious project to date: a packed all-day event featuring root-vegetable and kitchen utensils instrument making, open jams, two sold-out concerts, and the debut of The Young Person's Guide to the LGO — co-written by Gundula and Evrah (after Benjamin Britten) to let children discover orchestral instruments and take the baton to conduct us live!
15th Apr '12: Concert - Shaw Theatre, London
A lively, high-energy performance opening the gala event of the George Bernard Dance and Music Festival organized by Musica Nova.
17th Jun '12: Celebrating Sanctuary - South Bank, London
A sprawling, interactive festival event produced and organized by Gundula for Refugee Week. We poured our hearts into filling the entire square with music alongside the Zivko Firfov Folklore Group, guest dance leaders, and our own swirling dancers, turning the South Bank into a massive, unified celebration of London's rich diversity.
17th Nov '12: Balkanika Britannika - Union Chapel, London
The LGO's flagship autumn concert, conceived and directed by Gundula, filling Union Chapel to capacity with new orchestral premieres, guest vocalists, and a featured set by Tatcho Drom.
6th Dec '12: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - London
An exhilarating performance for EBRD staff that had the entire room up and dancing throughout the night.
8th Dec '12: Spitalfields Festival - Spitalfields Market, London
Layering warm winter jumpers right over our colorful performance attire, we braved the freezing open-air cold to share cozy acoustic music, spreading winter warmth and raising vital funds for Crisis.
16th Dec '12: Children's Winter Concert - Hoxton Hall, London
The heartwarming finale of the Magic of Music Making project led by Gundula on Hoxton Hall's Victorian stage, bringing families together with the Colourful Children's Choir and playful live-music games to close a historic year.
