Art & music: exhibitions & recitals

The latest exhibition in the Crypt Gallery at St Martin-in-the-Fields includes embroidered and patchwork hangings, printed textiles, puppets and other three dimensional textile works, and garments made from fabrics created on the project. Entitled 'Crossing Borders' the exhibition features work by East London Textile Arts which was set up by local people of different faiths and ethnicities to make textiles that reflect the cultural diversity of East London. Craftspeople work in partnership with local community centres and have an outreach programme aimed at people who cannot access mainstream creative opportunities for reasons of health, family ties or economic constraints.

The National Society of Painters, Sculptors and Printmakers is a society that offers a challenge to all creative artists of the highest ability from any school of thought. By its very nature it strives to communicate with the widest possible audience, to excite interest and involve the public by showing a broad spectrum of contemporary and innovative painting, sculpture and printmaking. The Society will be holding their next exhibition at St Stephen Walbrook from Tuesday 10th - Friday 20th March, with a Private View on Wednesday 11th March from 6.30 - 9.00pm.

St Martin’s Chamber Music Competition embodies St Martin’s commitment to the discovery, nurture and promotion of new and emerging musical talent. With the support of Making Music, the competition is able to offer winners the opportunity to develop a performance profile across the UK. The semi-finals of the competition are currently taking place with the final being held on Tuesday 24 March, 7:00 pm. Those attending will join the panel of expert judges as the three winners of the Semi-Finals come together to fight for the 2015 Prize. With every ticket you will also receive an audience voting slip for the Audience Prize.

Every Thursday at 1.00pm, St Martin-in-the-Fields presents Great Sacred Music, a 35-minute lunchtime sequence to speak to heart, head and soul. Usually led by Revd Dr Sam Wells with St Martin’s Voices, it explores through song and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage. This Thursday's Great Sacred Music is a choral celebration of the Gospel according to St John, including Stainer’s God so loved the world and Tallis’ If ye love me. It is a 35-minute sequence which will speak to heart, head and soul, with Revd David Jackson exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.

The Walbrook Music Trust creates and shares music of the highest quality. The Trust aims to:

• provide free access to high quality performances of the music of Handel and his contemporaries within the City of London;
• give exposure, and create performance opportunities, for young, aspiring and highly talented professional musicians to assist in the development of their careers; and
• promote St Stephen Walbrook as a concert venue in the City of London.

Its weekly recitals take place at St Stephen Walbrook at 1.00pm each Tuesday.

Organ recitals are also given by visiting organists at St Stephen Walbrook. These Friday lunchtime recitals (12.30 - 1.30pm) have a varied programme of works, often taking into account the season of the church in the programme. They are free, with a retiring collection, and are organised by Joseph Sentance who is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and was until 2007 Director of Music at Sherborne Abbey in Dorset. From 1978-1995 Joe was closely involved with the music at the Chapels Royal, H.M.Tower of London, first as Assistant Organist and latterly as Master of the Music. 

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John Stainer - God So Loved The World.