Southbank Sinfonia

Sinfonia Smith Square (formerly Southbank Sinfonia) is an arts organisation and orchestra formed out of the merger of Southbank Sinfonia and St John's Smith Square. The organisation comprises a venue, Smith Square Hall, and a fellowship orchestra. The Sinfonia Smith Square Fellowship orchestra is formed of 34 graduate musicians who undertake a year-long programme of professional development. The Fellowship programme comprises performances across Britain and Europe, and features orchestral repertoire, chamber music, opera, dance and theatre, alongside artist development sessions. An integral part of the programme is the orchestra's creative partnerships with performing arts organisations including the Royal Opera House, Britten Sinfonia, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Berkeley Ensemble, and artists such as Vladimir Ashkenazy. The orchestra frequently collaborates with artists and groups across the music industry, including nonclassical and Squarepusher, as well as in theatrical projects with the National Theatre. These have included critically acclaimed productions of Amadeus in 2016/18, and Every Good Boy Deserves Favour in 2009/10. On 14 May 2023 the orchestra made an appearance in a YouTube video made by Max Fosh, where he played the triangle during one of their performances of Finlandia. The orchestra was shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Ensemble in 2016 and a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Concert Series and Festivals in 2017 for ConcertLab, their series that explores new approaches to concert presentation. Sinfonia Smith Square is the resident orchestra of the Anghiari Festival, held in the town of Anghiari (Tuscany, Italy) each July. Sinfonia Smith Square's patrons include Sir Thomas Allen, John Anderson, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Edward Gardner, Patricia Hodge, James Naughtie and the Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury.