WORKING without a conductor can have its advantages - and for the Guildhall String Ensemble it is the freedom to interpret music with a collective vision outside the constraints of a single person's authority.
It is not a situation that most ''classical'' musicians are comfortable with. Normally, having a conductor is the only way to focus a large group of musicians.
But considering the ensemble's 11 members graduated from England's prestigious Guildhall School of Music, and most of the ensemble has been together for 12 years and 14 albums, understanding each other in musical terms comes almost naturally.
''It's nice to work without conductors,'' said Robert Salter, the ensemble's director and first violinist. ''Everyone contributes more and they feel much more involved with the end result.
''There's more participation than there normally is. It's generally a very positive thing.
''As there is no conductor people have to be very aware of where they fit into the textures - they need to know what is going on in the other parts. It's a process of becoming very familiar with the music that you're playing.