Biography
Established in 1998, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra occupies a unique position within the UK orchestral landscape. Formerly known as Oxford Philomusica and hailed as ‘thoroughly impressive’ by BBC Music Magazine, its reputation is based on the uncompromising artistic standards of its founder and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos, and maintained by some of the finest musicians in the UK. As an orchestra of the highest quality, the Oxford Philharmonic attracts some of the world’s greatest artists to appear in its series at Christopher Wren’s Sheldonian Theatre, including Sir András Schiff, Valery Gergiev, Lang Lang, Maria João Pires, Renée Fleming, Pinchas Zukerman, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Nigel Kennedy.
Latest News
Press Releases
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra £5 Student Ticket Scheme brings in record young audiences
Ahead of its concert on 17 November celebrating 20 years as Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford, the Oxford Philharmonic conducted an online survey for those
who purchased a student ticket between September 2021 and August 2022. Within this period 28% of the audience were students, while 3.01% were under 18. The national average is 8% for under 31 attendance according to the Audience Agency’s 2017 report of National Classical Music Audiences.
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announces Oxford Piano Festival 2022
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director Marios Papadopoulos announce the 24 th Oxford Piano Festival taking place from 30 July – 7 August 2021. The Festival welcomes some of the world’s most distinguished pianists and teachers for the week-long series of varied concerts and masterclasses. This year, concerts and masterclasses are given by Víkingur Ólafsson, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Ingrid Fliter, Alim Beisembayev, Alain Lefèvre, Nikolai Lugansky and Samantha Ege, while the faculty also includes Stephen Kovacevich, Ferenc Rados and Emanuel Krasovsky. A number of concerts and masterclasses will be livestreamed.
Joining the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Marios Papadopoulos in an all-Mozartian programme at the Sheldonian Theatre on Sunday 31 July, Ingrid Fliter is the soloist in the ever-popular Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major; Fliter is the winner of the 2006 Gilmore Artist Award, one of only a handful of pianists and the only woman to have received this honour. The Orchestra completes the concert with Mozart’s Symphony No. 40.
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announces Oxford Piano Festival 2021
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director Marios Papadopoulos announce the 23rd Oxford Piano Festival taking place from 25 July – 1 August 2021. The Festival welcomes some of the world’s most distinguished pianists and teachers for the week-long series of varied concerts and masterclasses. This year, concerts and masterclasses are given by Stephen Kovacevich, Stephen Hough, Peter Donohoe, Kathryn Stott, Mishka Rushdie Momen and Barry Douglas, while the faculty also includes Ian Jones, Helen Krizos, Peter Bithell and Vanessa Latarche.
For the first time, three evening recitals and a number of masterclasses will be live- streamed to audiences worldwide, streaming free via the Orchestra’s YouTube Channel and available for 24 hours on demand. All concerts and masterclasses will once more welcome live audiences in accordance with coronavirus restrictions.
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra returns to live performance with Steven Isserlis, Chevalier de Saint Georges and a UN World Environment Day concert
Making their long-awaited return to live performance for the first time since March 2020, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos will once again welcome live audiences to the historic Sheldonian Theatre. Performing four concerts throughout June, the Orchestra launches the series on UN World Environment Day with further concerts featuring Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with Steven Isserlis and two concerts exploring the works of Chevalier de Saint-Georges and his contemporary, Mozart.
In a celebration of UN World Environment Day on Saturday 5 June 2021, the Orchestra presents a special programme centred around the Amazonian Moonflower.
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra to receive £102,958 from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra has received a grant of £102,958 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.
More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.
This grant is an essential lifeline for the Orchestra, guaranteeing its future and extending its ability to offer work and employment to its musicians. Funds will go towards a celebration of UN World Environment Day on Saturday 5 June with a ‘Pastoral for the Planet’ concert, part of a four-part concert series, which will include two programmes dedicated to investigating the relationship between Mozart and his contemporary Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announce Spring concert series with Nicola Benedetti, Lawrence Power & Marcus du Sautoy from the Sheldonian Theatre
This Spring, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos release an online series of four concerts filmed in the city’s historic Sheldonian Theatre.
Streamed free to its audiences worldwide, highlights of the series include a programme of maths and Stradivari from Marcus du Sautoy, an all-star rendition of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra with Nicola Benedetti and Lawrence Power, and an interplanetary family concert celebrating Earth Day.
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announces online concert series featuring Sheku Kanneh-Mason and world premieres by Mats Lidström and Libby Croad
Following their concert in tribute to the Oxford Vaccine Teams, which included the world premiere of John Rutter’s Joseph’s Carol, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra is kicking off 2021 with an online series of four concerts, streamed free to its audiences worldwide. Highlights include Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with Sheku Kanneh-Mason, as well as two world premieres: Libby Croad’s ‘Suite for Strings’ and Mats Lidström’s Sappho in Manchester.
Read moreSir Bryn Terfel premieres John Rutter’s ‘Joseph’s Carol’, dedicated to the Oxford vaccine team in celebratory concert from the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
In recognition of the formidable work accomplished by the team of scientists at the University of Oxford on their Covid-19 vaccine, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra will stream a celebratory concert on Friday 18 December, recorded in the city’s historic Sheldonian Theatre.
Performed by bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, the short concert features the premiere of John Rutter’s Joseph’s Carol, written in tribute to the Oxford Vaccine Group, the Jenner Institute and the RECOVERY team. The words by John Rutter recount the long and weary journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem before the birth of the baby Jesus, echoing the programme’s journey from struggle through to hope.
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra releases family-friendly videos to entertain children this Winter
This Winter, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra releases family-friendly music videos with members of the Orchestra online, designed to entertain and infuse music-making with a sense of fun. The four videos follow the success of their summer ‘OP at Home’ series and will be released on the Orchestra’s YouTube Channel. Due to the coronavirus crisis, musicians are unable to continue their usual work in schools meaning that, without these videos, children might miss out on these music-making activities.
Read moreOxford Piano Festival to go online, with enterprising recitals from young stars, webinars and masterclasses
Welcoming young alumni Ignas Maknickas, Kausikan Rajeshkumar, Oda Voltersvik, Julius Asal & Nuron Mukumi
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director Marios Papadopoulos announce the 22nd Oxford Piano Festival will take place online from Monday 3 August to Friday 7 August 2020. The Festival typically welcomes some of the world’s most distinguished pianists and teachers for a week-long series of varied concerts and masterclasses; this year, it will offer free webinars, clinics, and archive masterclasses augmented by evening concerts from five of the Festival’s young alumni, recorded especially for the Festival.
#OPatHome: Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra makes music-making fun with videos for primary school children
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra goes online during lockdown with #OPatHome, a six-week video series of entertaining and resourceful virtual music-making for primary school children. In the series, members of the Orchestra introduce their instruments, tell stories, perform legendary musical excerpts, and suggest interactive activities to do at home, even if you don’t play an instrument.
The series has been created by musicians from the Orchestra during lockdown in hopes of sending music, fun and creativity from their own homes to children watching at home and in school.
Beethoven’s overlooked contemporaries celebrated in a six-concert chamber series curated by Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra cellist Mats Lidström
Pairing chamber works by Beethoven with those of his contemporaries, a six-concert chamber series curated by cellist Mats Lidström uncovers the overlooked music that surrounded and influenced the great composer during his lifetime.
The Beethoven and his Colleagues recital series takes place in Oxford’s Holywell Music Room over two weekends, 6-7 March and 27-29 November, and is part of the year-long Oxford Beethoven Festival 2020, created by Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, where Lidström holds the position of Solo Cello.
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announces Oxford Piano Festival 2020
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director Marios Papadopoulos announce the 22nd Oxford Piano Festival taking place from 1– 9 August. The Festival welcomes some of the world’s most distinguished pianists and teachers for a week-long series of varied concerts and masterclasses, including Nelson Freire, Richard Goode, Alain Lefèvre, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Paul Lewis, George Li, Nikolai Lugansky, and Menahem Pressler, Life President of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra.
Read moreOxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos lead the UK’s most comprehensive Beethoven celebration
Presenting the most comprehensive 250th anniversary celebration of the great composer’s life and work in the UK, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos announce the Oxford Beethoven Festival 2020. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Bonn, twinned with Oxford, making the historic English city the ideal UK home of the year-long Festival of musical, academic, and cultural events.
Read moreOxford Philharmonic Orchestra launches a star-studded 2019/20 season including its debut at Carnegie Hall
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos announce their 2019/20 season, which sees the Orchestra make its US debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall. In 2020, the Orchestra embarks on a year-long comprehensive Beethoven celebration that brings the composer’s complete symphonies, concertos and major orchestral and chamber works to Oxford, with guest appearances from Maxim Vengerov, Mischa Maisky, Sergei Babayan, and many more.
Read moreThe Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra performs works by Krzysztof Penderecki in honour of his 85th birthday
On Saturday 18 May, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra celebrate Krzysztof Penderecki’s 85th Birthday in Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre, performing works including his Viola Concerto with the Orchestra’s own concertmaster Yuri Zhislin, and the UK premiere of his Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra, with soloist Gábor Boldoczki. The concert will be conducted by Maestro Penderecki’s Assistant Conductor, Maciej Tworek.
Marios Papadopoulos conducts Le Nozze di Figaro at the Greek National Opera
Conductor and pianist Marios Papadopoulos marks his return to the Greek National Opera from 23 March-12 April, conducting Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro in the new Greek National Opera Stavros Niarchos Hall, in the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center that has housed the Greek National Opera since 2017. Papadopoulos returns in a new production directed by Alexandros Efklidis, 20 years after he first conducted Le Nozze di Figaro with the company.
Read moreThe Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announces Oxford Piano Festival 2019
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director Marios Papadopoulos announce the 21st Oxford Piano Festival taking place from 27 July – 4 August. The Festival welcomes some of the world’s most distinguished pianists and teachers for the week-long series of varied concerts and masterclasses. This year, the faculty includes Boris Berezovsky, Ingrid Fliter, Beatrice Rana, Trio Metral, Sergei Babayan and Steven Osborne alongside Festival Patron Alfred Brendel and Menahem Pressler, Life President of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. Particular focuses of this year’s Festival include chamber music and the music of Chopin.
Read moreAhead of its star-studded 20th Anniversary concert, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announces future plans, including new Assistant Conductor Hannah Schneider
Ahead of its 20th Anniversary concerts in the Barbican and in Oxford, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announces plans for its future, including the creation of a new Assistant Conductor position as part of its Programme as Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford.
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra has partnered with its twin city of Bonn to mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth in 2020. The orchestra will collaborate with Beethoven-Haus Bonn on a number of projects, and has been invited to perform in Bonn as part of the 2020 celebrations.
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Marios Papadopoulos launch their 20th anniversary season with a star-studded line- up: Martha Argerich, Maxim Vengerov, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Rowan Atkinson, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Vadim Repin
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos celebrate their 20th anniversary year with a 2018/19 season featuring top international artists and composers, including Krzysztof Penderecki, Martha Argerich, Vadim Repin, Nicola Benedetti, Angela Gheorghiu and actor Rowan Atkinson. There are four premieres by Krzysztof Penderecki, Giorgos Koumendakis, Manuel Martínez Burgos and Richard English.
Read moreThe Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announce the 20th anniversary Oxford Piano Festival line-up
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director Marios Papadopoulos announce the 2018 Oxford Piano Festival celebrating two decades since the founding of the festival. From 28 July – 5 August, the Festival will welcome once again some of the world’s most distinguished pianists and teachers for an inspirational series of concerts, masterclasses and lectures. This summer’s line-up includes Piotr Anderszewski, Alfred Brendel, Seong-Jin Cho, Julius Drake, Richard Goode, Niel Immelman, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Anne Queffélec, Dame Fanny Waterman, Life President of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, 94-year old pianist, Menahem Pressler, and President of the Festival Sir András Schiff.
Read moreVladimir Ashkenazy and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra present a programme of Shostakovich, Rachmaninov and Borenstein following their most recent recording on Chandos
Following the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra’s critically acclaimed CD of music by Nimrod Borenstein, the orchestra’s patron Vladimir Ashkenazy returns to Oxford with a programme including Borenstein’s If You Will It, It Is No Dream alongside Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No.1 and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No.1. Natalia Lomeiko, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra’s Concertmaster, will appear as soloist in the concerto.
Read moreMarios Papadopoulos and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announce their 2017/18 season
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and their Music Director Marios Papadopoulos announce an exciting 2017/18 season featuring top names including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Avi Avital, Valery Gergiev, Steven Isserlis, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Maxim Vengerov and Lars Vogt. The season opens on 13 October at Oxford Town Hall with Valery Gergiev conducting a programme of Rossini, Mendelssohn and Stravinsky.
Read moreSir Georg Solti Conducting Award winner Karina Canellakis returns to the UK to conduct the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
Award-winning American conductor Karina Canellakis will take to the podium on 28 January 2017 to conduct the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in a programme of Saint-Saëns and Debussy at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. The performance, which marks the conductor’s debut with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, will be preceded by a free pre-concert talk at 6:30pm with Canellakis in conversation with journalist Edward Seckerson. Appearing alongside Canellakis is French pianist Cédric Tiberghien, who joins the Orchestra for the Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 5 in the all-French programme that also includes Debussy’s Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune and La mer.
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra announce their 2016/17 season with a host of internationally renowned guest artists
Established in 1998, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra (formerly Oxford Philomusica) under Music Director Marios Papadopoulos MBE, introduce a 2016/17 season featuring a host of exceptional guest artist appearances, many of whom are returning to the orchestra for a second time or more. With music from the age of Purcell through to two world premiere performances by emerging University of Oxford student composers, the season is presented across a number of Oxford’s historic venues, including the orchestra’s home in Sir Christopher Wren’s 17th century Sheldonian Theatre.
Read moreThe newly rebranded Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra launches a star-studded season at the Sheldonian Theatre, with touring and recordings with Maxim Vengerov and Nigel Kennedy
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra (formerly Oxford Philomusica) and their founding Music Director Marios Papadopoulos announce a star-studded 2015/2016 season with Renée Fleming, Vadim Repin, Nicola Benedetti, Pinchas Zukerman, Nigel Kennedy and Maxim Vengerov, all of whom relish performing in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, – the Orchestra’s unique and intimate home. The Oxford Philharmonic has rebranded to reflect a global outlook as it steps onto the international platform.
Read more