One of the most celebrated broadcast ensembles in the world, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s distinctive energy, lightning speed, and iconic musical character has moved and inspired audiences for over 100 years. Founded in 1922 as the 2ZY Orchestra, the Philharmonic has played an essential part in shaping the Greater Manchester region into an unmissable cultural destination and a hub for world-class talent in orchestral music.
Outside of the Philharmonic Studio, their broadcast home at MediaCityUK, the orchestra presents a flagship series at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall as well as live concerts recorded in venues across the country, at the BBC Proms, and on tour. Whether encountered in the concert hall, heard on the air, seen on television, or streamed on BBC Sounds and iPlayer, the work of the orchestra is enjoyed by millions of listeners every year.
The orchestra’s Chief Conductor is John Storgårds, an inspiring musical leader who has built a close relationship with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra over many years and Anja Bihlmaier is the Principal Guest Conductor. The trailblazing musical storyteller Julia Wolfe is the Orchestra’s Composer in Residence for 2025/26.
Artistic innovation and the development of a new audience for classical music has been a keen focus of the orchestra for many years. In June 2024, the Philharmonic gave the world premiere of Huang Ruo’s City of Floating Sounds, an immersive symphonic experience, at the cutting-edge Aviva Studios in Manchester. In March 2025, the Orchestra followed up with its latest collaboration with Aviva Studios, Philharmonic Sessions: The Augmented Orchestra, featuring the UK premiere of Anna Clyne’s PALETTE. UK and world premieres in the 2025/26 season include music by Laura Bowler, Edmund Finnis, Gabriella Smith, Julia Wolfe, and the UK premiere of Angel’s Bone, the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera by Du Yun, produced in collaboration with English National Opera and Factory International.
Engagement work for children and young people continues to be a vital part of the orchestra’s work. At the end of 2023 CBeebies broadcast Musical Storyland, a 10-part television series produced by the Philharmonic, featuring the musicians of the orchestra. The series brings to life famous stories from around the world using the power of music. This was the first time an orchestra has been commissioned to make a series of films for UK network television. To date, Musical Storyland has been requested over thirteen million times on BBC iPlayer.
