The Academy of St Martin in the Fields was founded by Sir Neville Marriner in 1958 and is currently led by Music Director Joshua Bell. In 1967, the Academy Chamber Ensemble was formed to perform the larger scale chamber music repertoire with players who customarily worked together, instead of the usual string quartet with additional guests. Drawn from the principal players of the orchestra, the Chamber Ensemble’s touring commitments are extensive and include regular tours of Europe and North America, whilst recording contracts with Philips Classics, Hyperion, and Chandos have led to the release of over thirty CDs.
The Chamber Ensemble now performs in multiple configurations, including the Academy Wind Ensemble, which returns to North America with pianist Caroline Palmer in the 2023-24 season, performing programs featuring the quintets of Beethoven and Mozart, among other works.
