60th Anniversary of Academy of St. Martin in the Fields! 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. Formed by Sir Neville Marriner (1924 - 2016) in 1958 from a group of leading London musicians, the Academy gave its first performance in its namesake church in November 1959. Through unrivalled live performances and a vast recording output – highlights of which include the 1969 best-seller Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and the soundtrack to the Oscar-winning film Amadeus – the Academy quickly gained an enviable international reputation for its distinctive, polished and refined sound. With over 500 releases in a much-vaunted discography and a comprehensive international touring programme, the name and sound of the Academy is known and loved by classical audiences throughout the world. Today the Academy is led by Music Director and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell, retaining the collegiate spirit and flexibility of the original small, conductor-less ensemble which has become an Academy hallmark. Under Bell’s direction, and with the support of Leader/Director Tomo Keller and Principal Guest Conductor Murray Perahia, the Academy continues to push the boundaries of play-directed performance to new heights, presenting symphonic repertoire and chamber music on a grand scale at prestigious venues around the globe. In the 2018/19 Season the Academy of St Martin in the Fields collaborates with artists including pianist Kit Armstrong, cellist Andreas Brantelid, pianist Jeremy Denk and violinist Julia Fischer for tours across Europe, the USA, Mexico and Russia. The orchestra looks forward to celebrating its 60th anniversary season in 2019 with exciting projects in the UK and beyond. Complementing a busy international schedule, the Academy continues to reach out to people of all ages and backgrounds