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.

Sally writes: “This new work was written following an inspirational trip to South Africa in 2024, the original idea, conceived with dedicatee Michael Collins, was to write a ‘four elements’ work; but my entire concept of the elements was altered by the experience of visiting this extraordinary, beautiful and troubled country.

The title, IZAKHI, is the Zulu word for ‘elements’, in the sense of building blocks – or the materials used to create our habitats. It also refers to those who build – who create those habitats from assembled resources”

Sally Beamish is one of Britain’s best-known contemporary composers and was the Academy of St Martin in the Fields’ first Composer in Residence. She also performed in the orchestra for several years as a viola player and her mother, violinist Ursula Snow, was a member of the orchestra before her.

IZAKHI is commissioned by the Tapiola Sinfonietta, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.

Academy of St Martin in the Fields is the principal orchestral partner of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which is its historic home.