The Academy tours extensively around the world and is particularly well-loved by audiences in the States where it performs at least once a year. However, cuts in arts funding and the increased costs of touring mean that the orchestra needs to raise additional funds to enable its US touring programme to continue.

Becoming an American supporter

This year the orchestra is working for the first time with outstanding violinist, Gil Shaham. Following three very successful concerts in the UK the orchestra toured with him in the USA.

In 2007 we are planning two major tours. In February with Sir Neville Marriner and pianist, Jonathan Biss we will be visiting West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Gainsville, Naples and Miami in Florida before moving on to Newark and Carnegie Hall, NYC. The programme will be:

Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite
Mozart Piano Concerto No.24 in c minor K491
Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in D major Op.36

The following month we go from the West to the East Coast with Joshua Bell playing and directing the orchestra in

Vivaldi Four Seasons
Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence

The tour takes us to Davis, San Francisco, Palm Desert and Disney Hall, Los Angeles. Then we travel to Las Vegas, San Diego, Tuscon and Mesa before a final week at State College PA, New Brunswick NJ, Troy and Greenvale NY and Carnegie Hall NYC once again.

We are currently looking for friends who will support our tour to the USA in 2007. This is a unique opportunity to get to know the orchestra on a personal level. Tour supporters will have the opportunity to join us for rehearsals and meet the players at post-show receptions. Tax-deductible donations can be made to The American Friends of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, a not-for-profit Californian corporation supporting the work of the orchestra and registered with the IRS under Section 501(c)(3). For further information, please e-mail info@asmf.org