[1][3] In November 2009, the City of London Sinfonia announced the appointment of Layton as its second artistic director, effective with the 2010–2011 season, with the title of principal conductor.
[4] Layton has premiered new works and recordings by a number of composers, including Arvo Pärt, Thomas Adès, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi and James MacMillan.
[3] Stephen Layton's discography on Hyperion[5] ranges from Handel and Bach with original instruments to Arvo Pärt, Paweł Łukaszewski, Lauridsen, Whitacre and Ēriks Ešenvalds.
Recordings with Polyphony include Gabriel Jackson,[6] Paweł Łukaszewski,[7] Francis Poulenc,[8] John Tavener,[9] and Ẽriks Ešenvalds.
[12][13] Layton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to classical music.