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Sadly, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have had to curtail our activities to protect both the players and the public and poor old St Stephens remains silent……
Our last concert was in March 2020 - Bach's St John's Passion at St James's, Piccadilly.
We had to cancel a Messiah in April, a Bach Cantata programme in May, a concert with Ashley Solomon in July, a choral concert in October and a concert with the ladies' choir, Gloriana, in January 2021.

We look forward to the day we can plan our programme again, safely and play for you once more!

Professional music-making during the pandemic.
Many musicians have lost their livelihoods during the various restrictions which have been coming and going across the country. Even those who have managed to perform, have had to restrict audiences to often sub-economic levels. Many musicians have turned to other ways to make ends meet and a proportion of these will not find a way back to professional activities.
Others have not been fortunate and have fallen on very hard times.
Many promoters, festivals, concert halls and other arts organisations have scaled back, curtailed their activities, mothballed or closed down completely with loss of work for all those involved.
Here is one description of the dilemma facing the arts from an opera company, Vopera.

You may wish to consider assisting professional musicians who have been particularly badly hit during the pandemic.
Help Musicians UK (formally Musicians' Benevolent Fund) would be grateful for any donations to help with their work directly benefitting musicians in difficulty.

Some happier news
One of our fine cellists, Christine Draycott (you'll remember her beautiful continuo performances in the Bach Passions, including our last concert before lockdown), recently completed an historic aeronautical achievement, becoming the first civilian pilot to pass the exacting military flying instructors' course. Described as a "monumental task " it was only previously attempted by experienced military pilots. Having flown commercial airliners, she now instructs RAF pilots in the Grob training aircraft. Previously Christine played cello professionally with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. What a talented person! We wish her happy landings and a return to Linden when she is able.