The Northern Sinfonia, acknowledged as one of Europe’s finest chamber orchestras, performs major concert series in Newcastle, Carlisle and Teesside. From its base in Newcastle upon Tyne, the orchestra acts as cultural ambassador for the North of England through regular national and international touring. Tours included festivals in France and Spain and, most recently, Bombay and Germany. In 2003 Northern Sinfonia became resident in a newly designed music centre situated in Gateshead, on the south bank of the Tyne. The orchestra is dedicated to chamber music and Northern Sinfonia ensembles perform across the region and elsewhere on a regular basis.

Recordings and broadcasts form an integral part of the orchestra’s work. Releases for Naxos include a recording of Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto, which won the Classic CD award for the Best Concerto Recording for 2000, and a series devoted to the piano concertos of John Field, with the pianist Benjamin Frith, in addition to award-winning releases for other major companies.

The work of the orchestra is complemented by the Sinfonia Chorus, established in 1973, and there is a wide ranging community and education programme, as well as an associated youth orchestra and a new music ensemble, Vaganza, dedicated to the regular performance of major twentieth century classics and contemporary repertoire.

Northern Sinfonia’s artistic team includes distinguished and creative associations with Heinrich Schiff, honorary guest conductor, Richard Hickox, conductor emeritus, John Casken, Composer in Association and Baldur Brinnimann, Young Conductor in Association.