Music

Imperial College String Ensemble performs in the church, Sze Kiat Chan

A flourishing and profitable concerts programme has developed over the years. The evening concert programme is well-known for its Baroque music and period performances by some of London's finest ensembles in a candlelit setting. Free lunchtime concerts provide a valuable opportunity for young musicians to perform to a receptive audience in an acoustically outstanding space. St Martin's also makes use of the unique atmosphere of the beautiful brick-vaulted Crypt by presenting many extremely popular jazz performances.

J T Johnston's Bourbon Kick performs as part of St Martin's Jazz in the Crypt

Music is at the heart of St Martin's life. King George I gave the church its first organ, which was played by Handel on several occasions. Our worship includes extremely high quality music and the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which contains talented professional-standard volunteer singers, is also normally heard at least five times a year on national and international BBC Radio.

St Martin's is the birthplace of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, founded in 1958, and although now a separate organisation, the Academy continues to serve as this London landmark's most vibrant and well-known international ambassador.

The Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields, www.kmphotos.com

A flourishing and profitable concerts programme has developed over the years. The evening concert programme is well-known for its Baroque music and period performances by some of London's finest ensembles in a candlelit setting. Free lunchtime concerts provide a valuable opportunity for young musicians to perform to a receptive audience in an acoustically outstanding space.. St Martin's also makes use of the unique atmosphere of the beautiful brick-vaulted Crypt by presenting many extremely popular jazz performances.

On a very practical level, the music programme is part of a model which generates much-needed revenue for the charitable work of the church and will continue to do so upon completion of the new spaces.

Much of this was done in spite of the facilities available, with the only rehearsal room being a musty former burial vault.

The Renewal Project will make greater access to, and engagement with, music possible. It will appreciably enhance music facilities at St Martin's, both for performers and audiences. The improvements include:

Architect's visualisation of the new double-height music rehearsal room, Eric Parry Architects

• A double-height rehearsal room, providing acoustically correct space for church and concert musicians, and a valuable resource for other ensembles
• New changing rooms for performers
• New space for music education and administration
• A major clean and service of the organ
• Reordering the church interior to provide a more flexible performance area