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Coming to a Philharmonia Orchestra concert is only the start of getting involved with music. You may know nothing about music and still enjoy a fantastic performance by the Orchestra. This is an opportunity to learn more about music and the orchestra to enhance your musical experience.

This is where you can find out more about music, composers, interesting facts about the Philharmonia and its musicians and how you can get involved with the Orchestra. Find out why Mozart wrote his Requiem, read about which member of the Orchestra would like to be a pilot and what you can experience for free before a concert.

Instruments

Find out more about the instruments of the orchestra and how they are played

Pre-Concert Events

Explore the Orchestra's free pre-concert events

Programme notes

Download free programme notes in advance of a concert

Magazine

Interviews with musicians and interesting articles

Sound Exchange

Visit our exciting new interactive music education website

Education and Community Programme

Find out all about our extensive programme of music activity for all ages across the country.

Teachers

Find out about resources and projects

Families

Find out about Family Music Days or come to a Sunday matinée concert

Messiaen Anniversary Celebrations Continue

The second part of the Philharmonia’s celebration of the centenary of Olivier Messiaen’s birth continues at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on 16, 21 and 23 October. The programmes include Messiaen’s largest orchestral work, La Transfiguration de Notre-Seigneur Jésus-Christ; Chronochromie; Réveil des oiseaux and Poèmes pour Mi, all works that illuminate Messiaen’s lifelong passions of love, nature and the divine.

Visit Messiaen mini-site

Creative Orchestra

The Philharmonia Orchestra has hit the road again to bring the Creative Orchestra project back to schools around the country.

Working with top musicians and tutors from the Philharmonia Orchestra mixing together different ideas and styles of music to create something new, original and exciting....see and hear how they got on.