A venue like no other
In the exceptional setting of St John’s Smith Square, live performance, acoustics, atmosphere, and architecture come together to create a rich and unforgettable experience. St John’s was designed and built by Thomas Archer and has survived fire, lightning, bomb plots and the Blitz. The Baroque beauty of the building is matched by an exceptional acoustic and from its restoration as both church and concert hall in the late 1960s, St John’s has presented some of the finest classical talent, programming choirs, chamber orchestras, and period instrument groups.
A new chapter for Southbank Sinfonia at St John’s Smith Square
In April 2021, St John’s Smith Square merged with Southbank Sinfonia to become one organisation with a shared administrative staff, Southbank Sinfonia at St John’s Smith Square.
Over the past year, our focus has been to integrate successfully and to develop a shared vision for the combined organisation. And now, with these fundamentals in place, we’ve begun the process of refining our vision, mission, and values, and will be looking to create a new brand which encompasses both sides of our organisation and preserves their unique spirits.
Our aim is to continue the long-established and much-loved favourites of the Southbank Sinfonia programme and the Smith Square concert calendar, to continue to offer an important performance space for schools, universities, and amateur groups at St John’s, but also to embed the Southbank Sinfonia Fellowship at the heart of all our programming.
To date, the orchestral Fellowship has been organised into themed weeks of activity and our intention is to continue in this way, with it providing the bedrock for programming decisions at St John’s Smith Square. Each theme will be explored through Southbank Sinfonia activity, but with external performers and ensembles collaborating each week, intersecting with the Fellowship programme.
For example, during a week dedicated to the exploration of Baroque music, there might be a Baroque-themed lunchtime concert, an orchestral concert with Southbank Sinfonia Baroque, performances by leading period instrument groups, an education project for local schools around Early Music, and the opportunity to partner with exhibitions of Baroque art in the local area.
We’re excited by the opportunity to invite audiences on new cultural journeys with us, to learn, experience and be inspired. And, in time, we plan to build a comprehensive and community-based Learning and Participation strand to our work.
We hope you will enjoy being part of this new chapter for Southbank Sinfonia at St John’s Smith Square: a home for creativity and young talent.
This page will continue to be updated as our vision and plans develop. However, should you have any thoughts on what you’ve read above, we are always listening and would value your feedback. Please contact Sarah Tattersall, Development Director, at [email protected].
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Statement
Southbank Sinfonia at St John’s Smith Square acknowledges that everyone is different, and we are committed to creating an organisation that reflects the society we live and work in. We are also committed to creating an inclusive culture that supports diversity and inclusion allowing everyone to bring their whole selves to work, to our venue, and to our performances, without fear.
We believe achieving equality, diversity and fairness of opportunity is our shared responsibility and we work hard to ensure that as an organisation, we are all accountable for its delivery.
Board of Trustees
Southbank Sinfonia at St John’s Smith Square
Robin Fawcett
Heidi Hall
Gennie Joy
Edith Monfries
Charlie Newsome-Hubbard
Simon Over
Dr Tracy Long CBE Chair
Board of Trustees
St John’s Smith Square Charitable Trust
Dr Tracy Long CBE Chair
Simon Over
Charlie Newsome-Hubbard
Edith Monfries
Heidi Hall
Southbank Sinfonia Founders
Michael Berman CBE
Simon Over
Katharine Verney
St John’s Smith Square is a member of the British Association of Concert Halls, the British Arts Festival Association, the Réseau Européen de Musique Ancienne (European Early Music Network), and an Affiliate Member of the Association of British Orchestras.
