Sinfonia Smith Square

Sinfonia Smith Square
Orchestra
The 2023/24 Sinfonia Smith Square Fellowship playing inside Smith Square Hall
Founded	2002
Location	London, United Kingdom
Principal conductor	Simon Over
Website	sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk

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 primarily comprises a venue, Smith Square Hall, and a youth orchestra. ^{[1] [2]}

The Sinfonia Smith Square orchestra is formed of 34 graduate musicians, who are unpaid but receive an undisclosed bursary to take part. ^[3] Musicians are involved roughly 3 days a week for a 40 week period. ^[4] The orchestra collaborates with other artists and groups, including productions of Amadeus ^[5] and Every Good Boy Deserves Favour ^[6] at the National Theatre.

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. ^[7]

The orchestra was shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Ensemble in 2016 ^[8] and in the Concert Series and Festivals category in 2017. ^[9] Sinfonia Smith Square runs and promotes a festival held in the town of Anghiari (Tuscany, Italy) each July. ^[10]

Sinfonia Smith Square's patron is Queen Camilla. ^[11]

History

Southbank Sinfonia was founded in 2002 by Simon Over (the current Artistic Director of Sinfonia Smith Square) Michael Berman CBE, and Katharine Verney. ^[12]

References

1. "St John's Smith Square orchestra unveils 'new name and visual identity'". The Stage. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
2. "Southbank Sinfonia and St John's Smith Square to join in new merger partnership". Classical Music. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
3. Hugill, Planet. "Sinfonia Smith Square's Fellowship programme welcomes 34 talented new graduate musicians for 2024/25" . Retrieved 2025-05-17.
4. "Southbank Sinfonia merges with St John's Smith Square - Arts Professional". 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
5. "Amadeus 2018". National Theatre. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
6. Spencer, Charles (2010-01-14). "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour at the National Theatre, review". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
7. Fosh, Max (May 14, 2023). "I Became A Professional Triangle Player For 12 Seconds" (video). youtube.com.
8. "2016: Ensemble". Royal Philharmonic Society. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
9. "Concert Series and Festivals: Shortlist". Royal Philharmonic Society. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
10. "Anghiari – Festival Southbank Sinfonia di Londra". www.touringclub.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-05-17.
11. Oliver, Sophie (2025-03-07). "Women who shaped Smith Square Hall's History". Sinfonia Smith Square. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
12. Finch, Hilary (2002-11-08). "Southbank Sinfonia: a new orchestra is born". The Times. London. Retrieved 2009-06-24.^{[ dead link ]}