Orchestras making change

Bath Philharmonia have continued supporting hundreds of young carers (under 18) to play, create and perform their own original music this year. Bath Philharmonia have estimated one young carer in every classroom in the UK, so their work is crucial to providing these young people with musical opportunities. Find out more here.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra are offering free tickets to school teachers and instrumental tutors who wish to bring a group of young people to upcoming concerts. To find out more, click here.

The Irish Association of Youth Orchestras are inviting attending members to bring a youth representative from their orchestra to this IAYO year's AGM. Find out more here.

Orchestral Festival Season

Glynebourne Opera Festival: Don Giavanni (Mozart) Mariame Clément directs Glyndebourne’s first new Don Giovanni in over a decade. Rising-star conductor Evan Rogister makes his Festival debut.

The London Handel Festival hosted a summer soiree in June, celebrating some of the most influential Handel pieces.

London Symphony Orchestra hosted their annual open air concert in June, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. The programme included music from Stravinsky, Debussy, Ravel and John Adams.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are having a summer filled with live performance, starting the summer off by performing at The Grange Festival and later in the summer performing at the BBC Proms and BBC Proms In the park.

Manchester Camarata are taking part in the famous Enescu Festival in September 2023, conducted by Gábor Takács-Nagy . Book here.

Arcangelo are at the Santander Festival this August, to continue their award winning partnership with Nicholas Altstaedt. The programme consists of a selection of Bach, Haydn and Boccherini.

Academy of Ancient Music are performing the final concert of the VOCES8 International Festival in Dorset, conducted by Barnaby Smith. You can book tickets here.

Orchestras On Tour

Scottish Chamber Orchestra have been touring this summer, finishing the tour in London on 29 July. Click here to book.

Arcangelo will appear at leading venues across South America this August in a seven city tour of Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru and Colombia with soloist Avi Avital. Find out more here.

Aurora Orchestra are touring Europe this August performing Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring from Memory. The Orchestra will finish the tour on 2 September, at the iconic Royal Albert Hall. They will be joined by Charlotte Ritchie and Karl Queensborough

Chineke! Foundation toured South America this spring. Conducted by Andrew Grams, the orchestra performed a selection of exciting and diverse pieces, closing with Florence B. Prices lively and groundbreaking Symphony No.1, infused with allusions to Americana.

Orchestral Anniversaries

Academy of St Martin In the Fields celebrate 100 years since the birth of its founder, Sir Neville Marriner. Keep an eye peeled for celebratory performances and commissions over the next year 2023-24.

The Hallé are celebrating 20 years of the Halle Recording label this summer, and you can stream some of their favourite tracks here.

London Sinfonietta celebrates their 55th Birthday during the 2023/2024 season. To celebrate, they will perform a selection of eclectic, provocative, surprising and beautiful music that they have commissioned and performed throughout their lifetime. This exciting concert is at the Southbank Centres Purcell Room on 24 January 2024.

Orchestral Appointments

YCAT have appointed six new rising stars to its roster, who will be making there debut performances in some of the worlds most prestigious venues. Find out more information about the musicians here.

Gabrieli Consort and Players has appointed Ben Gould as the new Orchestra and Tours Manager, and Nicolette Shaw as their new Development Director. Meet the team here.

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra welcomed Bethan Allmand as a new addition to the first violin section in May.

Hallé have announced Kahchun Wong as their new Principal Conductor from summer 2024.

City of London Sinfonia welcomed their new CEO, Rowan Rutter in April. You can read more about the new position here.

Digital Orchestras

Scottish Ensemble has developed a new and exciting ‘summer playlist’, with associations of summers past and yet to come. Listen here.

London Philharmonic Orchestra captured live Don Quixote Rides Again, which can be screened on their website.

Royal Northern Scottish Opera released a dementia– friendly concert as part of their digital care packages. The concert is available to anyone living with dementia, the NHS, health care homes and hospices.