The BBC Philharmonic is based at MediaCityUK in Salford and performs an annual season of concerts at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, as well as regular concerts in other venues across the north of England. As the orchestra is one of the BBC’s six performing groups, the majority of its concerts are broadcast on BBC Radio 3. The BBC Philharmonic is supported by Salford City Council, enabling the orchestra to build active links in the local area through a busy learning and community programme. Juanjo Mena, from the Basque region of Spain, has been chief conductor since 2011, with John Storgårds as principal guest conductor. The distinguished Austrian composer HK ‘Nali’ Gruber is composer/conductor and former chief conductor Gianandrea Noseda is now conductor laureate. The BBC Philharmonic has had its roots in the city of Manchester since its foundation in 1934 as the BBC Northern Orchestra. In 1982, soon after moving to the BBC’s new building on Oxford Road in Manchester, it changed its name to the BBC Philharmonic. As an internationally renowned orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic regularly tours in Europe and Asia.

Photo courtesy of Sussie Ahlburg