Exhibition: Music, Migration and Mobility – The Story of Émigré Musicians from Nazi Europe in Britain
Wednesday 9th September to Friday 9th October
The Old Crypt, St John’s Waterloo
For opening dates and timings see further below.*First created at the Royal College of Music Museum in 2023, this touring exhibition traces the remarkable journeys of a group of influential musicians – their work spanning opera, chamber music, composition, and music education, and their experiences of internment during the Second World War. It explores their lasting contribution to British musical culture in the post-war years, including their role in the Festival of Britain. QR codes throughout the exhibition connect visitors to oral history interviews and further resources on the RCM website.
This exhibition forms part of Now I Make a Leaf of Voices series at St John’s Waterloo, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain. More specifically, it’s part of a day of events including the Symposium A Tonic to The Nation: Refugees and Immigrants at the Festival of Britain and Émigré Cabaret concert.
Comics by Giada Peterle, created for the exhibition ‘Music, Migration and Mobility’
Time / Dates:
We recommend checking this page for updated dates and timings before visiting the exhibition, as last-minute changes to the schedule may occur due to building operations. If you’re travelling specifically to view the exhibition, we also recommend calling St John’s Waterloo in advance. Last updated on 28th May 2026.
Wednesday 9th September– 10am to 4:30pm
Thursday 10th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Friday 11th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September – CLOSED
Monday 14th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Tuesday 15th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Wednesday 16th September– 10am to 4:30pm
Thursday 17th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Friday 18th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September – CLOSED
Monday 21st September – 10am to 4:30pm
Tuesday 22nd September – CLOSED
Wednesday 23rd September– 10am to 4:30pm
Thursday 24th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Friday 25th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April – CLOSED
Monday 28th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Tuesday 29th September – 10am to 4:30pm
Wednesday 30th September– 10am to 4:30pm
Thursday 1st October – CLOSED
Friday 2nd October – 10am to 4:30pm
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October – CLOSED
Monday 5th October – 10am to 4:30pm
Tuesday 6th October – 10am to 4:30pm
Wednesday 7th October – 10am to 4:30pm
Thursday 8th October – 10am to 4:30pm
Friday 9th October – 10am to 4:30pm
More information:
This exhibition is one of the outcomes of Music, Migration and Mobility: The Legacy of Migrant Musicians from Nazi-Europe in Britain, a performance-led and multi-disciplinary project that seeks to better understand the significance of migration and mobility for music. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) it brings together an international team of musicians, archival researchers, musicologists and geographers for one of the biggest practice-led research projects at the RCM to date. You can find more about this here.
The exhibition forms part of “Now I make a leaf of voices“, a series of events celebrating St John’s Festival of Britain heritage, which runs between July and December 2026.
About St John’s Waterloo:
St John’s Waterloo is a historic Grade II* arts and community venue on the South Bank, reopened in 2022 after a major restoration. Its year-round programme of music, performance and visual arts increasingly focuses on collaboration between artists, arts organisations and local people, co-producing projects that reflect the richness and diversity of the neighbourhood while animating the church’s historic spaces and award-winning garden. Read more about our creative programme and events here.
Getting to St John’s Waterloo: St John’s Waterloo is accessible by bus, tube or train; the nearest station is Waterloo Station. Parking is available in Exton Street on pay bays, Monday to Friday from 8.30am till 6.30pm & Saturday 8.30am till 1.30pm. Payment must be made by phone or app, details can be found on signs along Exton Street. After 6.30pm (1pm on Saturday) parking is free within the bays and on single yellow lines. There are no disabled bays along Exton Street. Parking is also available in car parks in York Road and Cornwall Road, details for both can be found online.