Conrad Tao and Academy of St Martin in the Fields

“The kind of musician who is shaping the future of classical music.” - New York Magazine (on Tao)

PROGRAM

Ruth CRAWFORD SEEGER: Music for Small Orchestra

MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488

COPLAND: Appalachian Spring 

ABOUT

Conrad Tao joins the Academy of St Martin in the Fields for a program spanning centuries of brilliance. From the classical elegance of Mozart to the adventurous harmonies of Ruth Crawford Seeger, culminating in the sweeping, quintessentially American Appalachian Spring, this program is both intimate and grand in scope. 

Praised for his insight, sensitivity, and virtuosity, Conrad Tao transforms each work into a living, breathing experience, while the Academy of St Martin in the Fields delivers its signature brilliance and precision. 

CONRAD TAO

Piano

Conrad Tao is a pianist and composer celebrated for his boundary-defying artistry as well as his powerful performances of traditional repertoire. Described by New York Magazine as “the kind of musician who is shaping the future of classical music,” and praised by The New York Times for his “probing intellect and open-hearted vision,” Tao appears regularly as a soloist with leading orchestras and at major venues across the world. Tao is also a cross-genre performer whose recent collaborators include dancer Caleb Teicher, vocalist Charmaine Lee, artist Avram Finkelstein, choreographer Miguel Gutierrez and The Westerlies. He is also a member of the Junction Trio alongside Stefan Jackiw and Jay Campbell. Tao is a recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Gilmore Young Artist Award, and a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award for his collaboration with Caleb Teicher on More Forever.

ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS

Founded in 1958 by Sir Neville Marriner, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields has evolved into a musical powerhouse, an orchestra renowned across the world for its commitment to the musical freedom of its players and the sharing of joyful, inspiring performances. 

Today, with Music Director Joshua Bell, ASMF’s player-led approach empowers every member of the orchestra. This creates a direct line and electrifying connection between the orchestra and our audiences, resulting in ambitious and collaborative performances that transcend the more traditional conductor-led model. 

ASMF will present more than 100 concerts across 2024/25, having kickstarted the season at the Royal Albert Hall with a BBC Proms performance of Handel’s Messiah with John Butt and a live show of The Rest is History podcast with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.

Internationally, ASMF and Joshua Bell toured Prague and Switzerland in September and the ASMF Chamber Ensemble toured the US in October. In November, the orchestra will visit Korea and China with pianist Khatia Buniatshvili and violinist Ning Feng, culminating in a concert at London’s Barbican Centre with Buniatishvili to launch her Barbican Artist Residency in December. International highlights early in 2025 include a 19-date European tour featuring cycles of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos with Jan Lisiecki alongside works by Errollyn Wallen, Ruth Gipps and Anna Clyne, followed by a visit to the USA with pianist Bruce Liu and an ambitious, player-led residency and performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherezade with Joshua Bell alongside the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

ASMF has announced a full 2024/25 season at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which includes collaborations with cellist Anastasia Kobekina, pianists Bruce Liu and Alexandra Dariescu, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, violinist Augustin Hadelich and viola soloist Timothy Ridout. ASMF is the principal orchestral partner of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which is the orchestra’s historic home.

Beyond the concert hall, our commitment to a social purpose manifests in impactful projects that harness the power of music to empower people. We have a longstanding history of work which connects with people experiencing homelessness, and our education projects develop autonomy and creativity among emerging musicians worldwide. 

Our collective artistic responsibility fosters enduring collaborations with world-renowned soloists, exemplified by our 15-year partnership with Music Director and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell. These collaborations showcase the benefits of trust and true artistic collaboration developed over time. 

Building on its rich global legacy, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields remains one of the world’s most-recorded orchestras, igniting a love for classical music in people around the world through live performance and digital initiatives. Today, we continue a busy international touring programme alongside a significant presence in the UK – making us one of the country’s most celebrated cultural exports.