Formed by Sir Neville Marriner in 1958 from a group of leading London musicians to focus on playing Baroque music, the Academy gave its first performance in its namesake church in November 1959. The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble was created in 1967 to tour as a string octet, string sextet, and in other configurations including winds.
Currently the Wind Ensemble is composed of James Burke, clarinet, Tom Blomfield, oboe, Julie Price, bassoon, Stephen Stirling, horn, and Simon Crawford-Phillips, piano. As well as being extraordinary chamber musicians, the artists perform as soloists and serve as teachers individually and together. Their accolades and tributes are many and illustrious.
In an ongoing cooperative spirit, the ensemble works toward the brilliantly energetic sound and high standard of musicianship which have become its hallmarks. The Wind Ensemble of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields one of the world’s premier chamber orchestras, is renowned for its fresh, brilliant interpretations of the world’s most-loved classical music.