The Academy of St Martin in the Fields celebrate the 70th Birthday of composer Sally Beamish with a programme including new commission from Sally, IZAKHI, a basset clarinet concerto featuring Michael Collins.

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SALLY BEAMISH 70TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT with MICHAEL COLLINS

St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, London

These are set against Sally Beamish's fourth string quartet from 2019, which was directly inspired by Robert Schumann's first string quartet, and Robert and Clara's relationship.

Fragments (withGustav Piekut)

Unitarisk Kirkesamfund

Richard Strauss's Serenade, Op. 7, is the work of a 17-year-old. The young master was still attending high school when he completed his piece. But the famous conductor Hans von Bülow championed the work and laid the foundation for Strauss's success. After the performance, the young composer burst with pride and self-confidence: "Well, the serenade was well-received," he wrote to his father, "it was almost as successful as Weingartner's [string serenade], which is very pretty, although after Bülow, mine is the best of the three pieces [in the concerto]."

NDR Elb Philharmonic Orchestra / Vadim Gluzman / Martin Frost / Sakari Oramo

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

The Hamburg State Orchestra's Philharmonic Concerts become ZeitSpielen and transcend the boundaries of the ordinary: In this concert, Sally Beamish's compositional exploration of Mozart's rules will be heard - for the second and third movements of his Sinfonia Concertante will be replaced by new compositions from her pen, inspired by the original. We encounter Mozart today as a mirror of the past and at the same time, through Beamish, as part of the here and now! 

7th Philharmonic Concert MOZART / BEAMISH

Elbphilharmonie

Schubert’s Second Symphony with Tabea Zimmerman

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

How do we perform our musical stories? How do actors learn their roles, and can we compare it to rehearsing a score?

Play

Get up close to the music as the Aarhus Chamber Orchestra plays in a special circle formation with the audience seated all the way around the orchestra. The conductor – and soloist – are in the middle of the circle, and the audience gets a new and different look into the engine room of music as the hall becomes an open meeting place between the audience and musicians for this special concert experience.

360° Symphonic Experience

Aarhus Music Hall

Begin your journey into Advent with the passion and precision of Tenebrae, as they sing a stunning programme ranging from Gregorian chant to a spirited version of much-loved traditional The Twelve Days of Christmas.  The centrepiece of the evening is Britten’s iconic A Ceremony of Carols for upper voices and harp – a series of captivating miniatures in which Britten sets haunting melodies alongside moments of joyous declamation. The programme also features the Tenebrae commission In Winter’s House by English composer Joanna Marsh, and traditional carols such as In the Bleak Midwinter and Silent Night to welcome in the festive season.

Christmas with Tenebrae: In Winter's House

Royal Concert Hall Nottingham

With bold musicality and technical brilliance, the Finnish ensemble Meta4 has captivated audiences around the world. The quartet has received numerous awards, including first prize at the International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition in Vienna. Now they return to Konserthuset Stockholm for a concert where intimacy and emotional depth take centre stage.

Meta4

Stockholm Concert Hall

Michael Collins, one of the world's leading clarinet artists, will bring a world premiere performance by Sally Beamish.

ISAAC

Espoo Cultural Centre

Winnipegger Allen Harrington is one of Canada’s finest wind players. He makes  Sally Beamish’ iconic saxophone concerto absolutely sing in this concert warmly  ushering in the spring. 

Lullaby of the Snow matinee

Crescent Arts Centre

### Event Description: Branford Marsalis Chamber Project

**Date and Time:**  
Friday, February 21, 2025, at 7:30 PM

**Venue:**  
Rackham Auditorium  
915 East Washington Street  
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

**Event Overview:**  
Join us for an exquisite evening of chamber music featuring the renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis. This special performance will take place just two nights after the Branford Marsalis Quartet’s UMS debut. Branford Marsalis will be showcasing his classical prowess alongside two distinguished members of the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance community: saxophone professor Timothy McAllister and collaborative pianist Liz Ames.

**Program:**  
- **Claude Debussy:** Rhapsodie, L. 98
- **Sally Beamish:** First Light from Divertimenti for Two Soprano Saxophones and Piano
- **Kelly-Marie Murphy:** Unstoppable Fear Machine
- Additional works to be announced

**Artists:**  
- **Branford Marsalis:** Saxophones
- **Timothy McAllister:** Saxophones
- **Liz Ames:** Piano

**Ticket Information:**  
- Season Ticket packages are now available.
- Individual event tickets go on sale on August 1.
- Student, Senior, and Group Discounts may be available.
- To purchase tickets, visit the UMS website or call the ticket office at 734-764-2538.

**Sponsors:**  
This event is generously supported by Elaine and Peter Schweitzer, who are also supporting Branford Marsalis’s UMS debut and residency.

**Additional Information:**  
Branford Marsalis, hailing from the rich musical environment of New Orleans, has expanded his musical universe to embrace both jazz and Western classical music. His journey from the clarinet to the alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones has led him to a successful career as a composer and performer. Marsalis has often remarked on the challenges of classical music, likening it to reading Shakespeare or Chaucer, where the performer must bring the characters to life without altering the original words.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the fusion of jazz and classical music through the talents of Branford Marsalis and his esteemed colleagues.

**Contact Information:**  
For more details, visit the UMS website or contact the Box Office at 734-764-2538.

Branford Marsalis Chamber Project

University of Michigan

The ensemble’s recent album brings together a sequence of works, ancient and modern, to mark the feast of Epiphany.

The Gesualdo Six

Wigmore Hall

Receiving rapturous reviews for their complete Beethoven series at Wigmore Hall, both live and on disc, and a separate Mendelssohn series, the Elias players turn their attention to Mozart, in whose music they are joined by another leading musician for two of the string quintets. Sally Beamish’s piece took as its starting point the idea of the evening meeting or Epilogue which ends many Quaker events.

Elias String Quartet; Robin Ireland viola

Hailed as one of the most intense and vibrant quartets of their generation, Elias formed at the RNCM in 1998 and have retained a strong association with the College ever since. We’re delighted to welcome them back to perform music they’ve formed deep connections with over the years.

Elias String Quartet

RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music)

Aquarium is dedicated to her daughter Stephanie in thanks for introducing the composer to the world of tropical fish.

Flute Chamber Music

Royal Academy Of Music

A 2011 piece by Sally Beamish based on Mozart’s Adagio for glass harmonica is paired here with an arrangement for wind quintet of one of Dvořák’s most well-known works, the ‘American’ string quartet. The remarkable work of Ruth Crawford Seeger has been revived extensively in recent years, including her Suite from 1952.

Dogoda Quintet

Royal Academy of Music

Immerse yourself in a captivating evening of classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra's "Lost and Found Beethoven, Beamish, Prokofiev" concert. This remarkable event is set to take place at the iconic Barbican on Thursday, 20 June 2024, starting at 7pm. 

The concert promises an unforgettable journey through the works of Ludwig van Beethoven, Sally Beamish, and Sergei Prokofiev, under the baton of the esteemed conductor Gianandrea Noseda. The evening will commence with Beethoven's powerful "Overture: Leonore No 3," followed by the UK premiere of Sally Beamish's "Distans: Concerto for Violin and Clarinet," a piece exploring themes of connection and longing. After a brief intermission, the program will conclude with Prokofiev's enigmatic "Symphony No 7," a work that combines cherished memories of youth with a profound farewell message.

Featuring solo performances by violinist Janine Jansen and clarinetist Martin Fröst, the concert is a showcase of exceptional talent and emotional depth. The event is scheduled to conclude at approximately 8:40 pm, offering an evening of music that is both elusive and disarming.

Tickets are available in a range of prices to suit all budgets, with options from £18 to £70, and a booking fee applies for online and phone transactions. For those seeking a more spontaneous experience, limited Wildcard Tickets are also available, guaranteeing entry with seat allocation on the day of the concert.

This concert is not just a performance but an exploration of music's power to evoke emotion and connect across distances. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the London Symphony Orchestra's profound musical journey at the Barbican.

Lost and Found – Beethoven, Beamish, Prokofiev

Barbican Centre

Sound the trumpet – and the horns, trombones and tuba! An evening of melodies you love, from Bach to Broadway, presented with a fanfare by the fabulous brass players of the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Sound the Brass!

St. Georges Theatre

Experience the charm and wit of "CALIFORNIA SUITE" at the Tobin Center's Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater on June 13, 2024, at 7:30 pm. This delightful performance, presented by Tobin Center Residents, promises an evening of engaging storytelling and captivating music, featuring compositions by Terry Riley, Sally Beamish, Lisa Bielawa, Gabriella Smith, and Danny Elfman. Tickets start at just $15.00, offering an accessible opportunity to immerse yourself in the arts. Don't miss this unique blend of drama and music set against the backdrop of one of the city's most esteemed venues. Secure your spot now for a night to remember!

California Suite

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) soloists on the International Artist Diploma course perform under the batons of RNCM student conductors with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. This afternoon will no doubt be a defining experience at the start of their already illustrious careers.

RNCM International Artist Diploma finals

MediaCityUK

### Event Description

**Joshua Bell, Murray Perahia & ASMF Chamber Ensemble - Academy of St Martin in the Fields**

**Date:** 16 April 2024  
**Time:** Tuesday  
**Venue:** Wigmore Hall, London

Join us for an extraordinary evening of classical music as Joshua Bell, Murray Perahia, and the renowned Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble reunite at the intimate Wigmore Hall in London. This special performance will feature a captivating program including:

- **Sally Beamish's Partita for String Octet**: Specially commissioned by the Academy and premiered in 2019.
- **Schumann's Piano Quintet in E Flat, Op. 44**: A masterpiece of the piano quintet repertoire.
- **Mendelssohn's Octet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20**: Led by Music Director Joshua Bell, this piece is a cornerstone of chamber music.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience these world-class musicians in an exceptional setting. Please note that tickets are currently available on a returns-only basis.

**Programme:**
1. Sally Beamish Partita for String Octet
2. Schumann Piano Quintet in E Flat, Op. 44
3. **Interval**
4. Mendelssohn Octet in E Flat Major, Op. 20

Secure your place for an unforgettable night of music at Wigmore Hall.

Joshua Bell, Murray Perahia & Asmf Chamber Ensemble

Elias Quartet

University of South Alabama

Two outstanding musicians invite you on a journey through songs of love, loss and protest, from the quiet faith of Bach’s Jesu, joy of man’s desiring to the defiance of The Beatles’ hit Blackbird and the famous Farewell to Stromness.

Love, Loss & Protest: Imogen Whitehead & Olivia Jageurs

Kent College

The Elias String Quartet marks Sally Beamish’s 70th birthday year with a performance of two of the three quartets the group commissioned from her, each of which takes one of Robert Schumann’s string quartets as its point of creative departure. Its programme also includes a sequence of folk songs arranged by Donald Grant, Elias Quartet violinist and a master of the Scottish fiddle tradition.

Isobel Neary-Adams studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where they hold a scholarship. They cultivated a passion for chamber music at MusicWorks, Festival Resonances Academy, Maiastra, and IMS Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music.

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Leeds Conservatoire

Senior flute students perform a programme of chamber music, including Three Sketches for flute quartet by Head of Composition, Philip Cashian, Sally Beamish’s work inspired by the beautiful colours of tropical fish and the premiere of a new work by an Academy composer.

Flute Chamber Music 2026

This programme moves across the ages, from the intricate architecture of Renaissance polyphony by Palestrina, Lassus and Byrd, to the distinctive voices of the present day, including Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Blake Morgan. At its centre is the season of Advent: a time of waiting and anticipation. Ancient hymns and carols sit alongside modern reflections on the Christmas story, with familiar melodies appearing both in their traditional form and through the lens of contemporary arrangers. From candlelit devotion to moments of joy, The Gesualdo Six trace a musical path through the festive season.

Sally Beamish

Events

Upcoming events

Oct 17, 2026

Love, Loss & Protest: Imogen Whitehead & Olivia Jageurs · Canterbury Festival

Nov 5, 2026

Elias String Quartet · Wigmore Hall

Nov 11, 2026

Guildhall School of Music & Drama · Leeds Conservatoire

Nov 24, 2026

Flute Chamber Music 2026 · Royal Academy of Music

Dec 15, 2026

O Magnum Mysterium · Sinfonia Smith Square

Past events

Jun 11, 2026

SALLY BEAMISH 70TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT with MICHAEL COLLINS · Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Apr 29, 2026

Fragments (withGustav Piekut) · Østerbro Koncertforening

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