The London Sinfonietta is one of the world’s leading contemporary music ensembles, with a reputation built on the virtuosity of its performances and its ambitious programming. It is committed to placing new music at the heart of contemporary culture and pushing boundaries, and regularly undertakes projects with choreographers, video artists, film-makers, electronica artists, jazz and folk musicians.

The ensemble is Resident Orchestra at Southbank Centre with regular performances from composer-conductors such as Oliver Knussen, Thomas Adès and George Benjamin, as well as some of the finest interpreters of twentieth and twenty-first century repertoire including Diego Masson, Peter Eötvös and Martyn Brabbins. It continues to take the best contemporary music to venues and festivals throughout the UK and worldwide with a busy touring schedule.

The creation of new music has been at the core of the London Sinfonietta’s work since its foundation in 1968. The ensemble has commissioned over 250 works and premiered many hundreds more, ranging from Luciano Berio and Harrison Birtwistle to Steve Reich. Its innovative Blue Touch Paper scheme, which has supported new works from Naomi Pinnock, Dai Fujikura and Anna Meredith, gives composers and collaborators the opportunity to take risks and develop ideas with some of the world’s finest musicians. Writing the Future, a new scheme, supports six composers in the development of work at a one-to-one level with the London Sinfonietta players.

Extending its support of emerging talent, the London Sinfonietta launched the annual London Sinfonietta Academy in 2009, giving young instrumentalists from across the UK the unparalleled opportunity to train and perform with some of the finest contemporary musicians in the world.

The ensemble also continues to develop The Collective, a growing community of people across London and the UK who participate in high quality performance projects with the ensemble.

The London Sinfonietta has its headquarters at Kings Place where it is developing another strand of its programme for London and UK touring. It was awarded the RPS Music Award for Ensemble for its work throughout 2009.

London Sinfonietta performs with the generous support of Arts Council England, the PRS for Music Foundation, and numerous other trusts, foundations, sponsors and individuals.