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 the audiences, resulting in ambitious and collaborative performances that transcend the more traditional conductor-led model.
ASMF will present more than 100 concerts across 2024/25, having kickstarted the season at the Royal Albert Hall with a BBC Proms performance of Handel's "Messiah" with John Butt and a live show of the "Rest is History" podcast with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.
Internationally, ASMF and Joshua Bell toured Prag and Switzerland in September 2024 and the ASMF Chamber Ensemble went to the US in October. In November, the orchestra visited Korea and China with pianist Khatia Buniatishvili and violinist Ning Feng, culminating in a concert at London's Barbican Centre with Khatia Buniatishvili to launch her Barbican Artist Residency in December. International highlights early in 2025 include a 19-date European tour featuring cycles of Beethoven's Piano Concertos with Jan Lisiecki alongside works by Errollyn Wallen, Ruth Gipps and Anna Clyne, followed by a visit to the USA with pianist Bruce Liu and with an ambitious, player-led residency with Joshua Bell at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which includes a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's “Sheherazade” with students.
Beyond the concert hall, their commitment to a social purpose manifests in impactful projects that harness the power of music to empower people. It has a longstanding history of work which connects with people experiencing homelessness, and the education projects develop autonomy and creativity among emerging musicians worldwide.
Their collective artistic responsibility fosters enduring collaborations with world-renowned soloists, exemplified by their 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, they continue a busy international touring programme alongside a significant presence in the UK – making them one of the country’s most celebrated cultural exports.
ASMF is a KD SCHMID touring orchestra.