The Academy of St Martin in the Fields was formed in 1958 as a small, conductorless chamber ensemble. Led by Neville Marriner and attracting some of the finest players in London, the orchestra at first concentrated on repertoire from the Baroque era, developing a style of performance that launched the 1960's Baroque revival. The Academy was so named after the various concert-giving societies or 'Academies' that had flourished in 18th century London and the famous church in which it gave its first concert on 13 November 1959.

Only two years later it had secured its first recording contract, with the independent L'Oiseau-Lyre label. This was to be the beginning of a literally record-breaking discography that now boasts well over 500 entries, making the Academy the most recorded chamber orchestra in the world. The Academy is particularly well-known for its Mozart recordings with Sir Neville Marriner including the multi award winning soundtrack to the film 'Amadeus'. More recently the orchestra has won critical acclaim for its recordings of Bach pianist Murray Perahia, concerti by Kurt Weill and Peteris Vasks with British violinist Anthony Marwood and Soprano Kate Royal's debut CD. Thanks to this huge recorded catalogue and widespread radio coverage, the Academy's name has become familiar to audiences across the globe.

Alongside its performances with Life President Sir Neville Marriner and Director Kenneth Sillito the Academy now collaborates with a number of guest directors including Murray Perahia, Joshua Bell, Gil Shaham, Anthony Marwood, Julia Fischer and Julian Rachlin. The orchestra maintains a busy schedule of international touring alongside its concerts and outreach work in the UK and in the 2007/8 season will perform in Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, Russia and the USA. In 1997 the orchestra was invited to perform during the official handover celebrations in Hong Kong and more recently was the first guest orchestra to appear at the Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Since 2002 the Academy has been the resident orchestra at the Mostly Mozart Festival at London's Barbican Centre.

Unlike most major UK orchestras the Academy receives no direct government subsidy and relies solely on its commercial initiative and donations from trusts, foundations and individual donors for its continued success.

Biographies
Sir Neville Marriner
Kenneth Sillito
Murray Perahia
Johan Duijck