The City of London Sinfonia is a medium-sized group that often collaborates with choirs and opera companies. The group has a major presence in London's concert life, appearing everywhere from traditional concert halls to clubs. The City of London Sinfonia, often CLS, was founded in 1971 by conductor Richard Hickox, who shaped the group fundamentally and remained its music director until 2008. The CLS made its first recording, an album of Bach masses, in 1975. The group often collaborates with both choral ensembles and opera companies and in 1997, its recording of Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes won a Grammy Award. Michael Collins was named principal conductor in 2010, with Stephen Layton serving as artistic director. In 2023, the CLS backed The Wimbledon Choral Society on a recording of Cecilia McDowall's Da Vinci Requiem and 70 Degrees Below Zero.