The Academy

 

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields is one of the world’s finest chamber orchestras, renowned for fresh, brilliant interpretations of the world’s greatest orchestral music.

Founded in 1958 by Sir Neville Marriner, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields has evolved into a musical powerhouse, an orchestra renowned across the world for its commitment to the musical freedom of its players and the sharing of joyful, inspiring performances.  

Today, with Music Director Joshua Bell, ASMF’s player-led approach empowers every member of the orchestra. This creates a direct line and electrifying connection between the orchestra and our audiences, resulting in ambitious and collaborative performances that transcend the more traditional conductor-led model. 

ASMF will share more than 85 concerts across its 2023/24 season. A busy start to the season has seen tours to Australia with Music Director Joshua Bell, Germany and Poland with Adam Fischer and Beatrice Rana, Spain with Julia Fischer and the USA with the ASMF Chamber Ensemble alongside a programme of performances in England. In March, the orchestra embarks on a 16-date tour of the US with Joshua Bell, performing symphonies by Brahms and Schumann and a new commission from Vince Mendoza, immediately followed by its Marriner100 festival celebrating the centenary of the orchestra’s founder Sir Neville Marriner. ASMF will tour cathedrals across the UK this summer, alongside performances at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields with Håkan Hardenberger and Federico Colli 

Beyond the concert hall, our commitment to a social purpose manifests in impactful projects that harness the power of music to empower people. We have a longstanding history of work which connects with people experiencing homelessness, and our education projects develop autonomy and creativity among emerging musicians worldwide. 

Our collective artistic responsibility fosters enduring collaborations with world-renowned soloists, exemplified by our 15-year partnership with Music Director and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell. These collaborations showcase the benefits of trust and true artistic collaboration developed over time.  

Building on its rich global legacy, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields remains one of the world’s most-recorded orchestras, igniting a love for classical music in people around the world through live performance and digital initiatives. Today, we continue a busy international touring programme alongside a significant presence in the UK – making us one of the country’s most celebrated cultural exports.  

Find out more about supporting the work of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields at asmf.org/support