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Browse Philharmonia concerts and events in London, across the UK and internationally

Santtu-Matias conducting with his arms in the air. There is a red 80 design laid on top of the image

2025/26 London Season

Book now for our 80th anniversary season at Royal Festival Hall

2025/26 Bedford season

Five fantastic concerts in our longest-standing residency

2025/26 Canterbury Season

We return to our Canterbury residency for five glorious concerts

2025/26 Basingstoke season

Orchestral favourites crown our season in Basingstoke

2025/26 Leicester season

See some of classical music's biggest stars at De Montfort Hall

Members of the Philharmonia in a chamber performance at Royal Festival Hall.

Free performances

Discover our free, 45-minute chamber music and contemporary music concerts

Who we are
Who we are

Founded in 1945, the Philharmonia is a world-class symphony orchestra for the 21st century

Philharmonia Orchestra first violins on state

Our players

Meet our players, 80 outstanding musicians who come from all over the world

Principal Conductor Santtu Matias-Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia

Titled artists

Meet the conductors and composers who shape our programme and performances

Philharmonia cello section on stage at Royal Festival Hall

About us

Read about our current work in the Philharmonia's official 2025/26 season biography

Wilhelm Furtwängler conducts Philharmonia in world premiere of Strauss' Four Last Songs, Royal Albert Hall, 1947_medium res

Our history

This article, written to mark our 80th anniversary in 2025, reflects on the Philharmonia's history

Blue Planet live in concert at Royal Festival Hall (2015)

Hire the Philharmonia

Find out about our wide range of projects with commercial partners

Contact & Management

All contacts for the Philharmonia's administration, and governance information

What we do
What we do

Based in London at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, the Philharmonia creates thrilling performances for a global audience

Philharmonia Orchestra on stage at Royal Festival Hall

Live on stage

Concerts, in many different formats, are at the heart of what we do

Woman wearing VR headset

Digital & Immersive

We use technology to connect with new audiences beyond the concert hall

Children applauding a concert

Learning & Engagement

We inspire, excite, empower and engage a broad range of participants

Horn player Carsten Williams at Air Studios

In the studio

Founded as a recording orchestra, today we record music for games and movies

Headshot of Vidya Patel looking into the camera, with the London Eye in the background

Artist in Residence

Every season, we appoint an Artist in Residence to collaborate with our musicians.

Violinist wearing a red suit at Hear and Now culmination performance, 2019

Talent Development

We nurture and showcase the next generation of artistic talent

Join & Support
Join & Support

As a registered charity, the Philharmonia relies on funding from a wide range of sources

Black and white photo of Zsolt-Tihamer Visontay laughing in rehearsal. There is a red circle design added on top of this photo.

Become a Friend

Be part of an engaged community passionate about music and enjoy exclusive benefits

Jonathan Maloney practising the horn backstage

Philanthropy

There are many ways that you can donate to help support the Philharmonia's programme

Philharmonia on stage in Ann Arbour, Michigan

American Patrons

The American Patrons of the Philharmonia Foundation support our work across the United States

Companies

We are proud to work in partnership with a wide range of businesses across the world

Family concert at Bedford Corn Exchange, full house

Philharmonia in Bedford Trust

Support us to secure the future of our residency at Bedford Corn Exchange in perpetuity

Thank you to our supporters

We are grateful to our Philharmonia family of supporters whose contributions help us make extraordinary music accessible to everyone

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  • News, blog & video

Bass Trombone and Beyond: A Conversation with James Buckle

Tuesday 7 Oct 2025
What made you choose to learn the bass trombone, and pursue a career as an orchestral musician?

I began learning trombone aged 8 after I saw Mark Nightingale perform in Swanage Jazz Festival. A few years later I joined Wells Cathedral School and realised nobody played bass trombone. Being an overexcitable attention seeker, this was the perfect opportunity for me to stand out! A few years later still, I joined NYO which was the catalyst for me to pursue a career.

If you were planning a fantasy concert, with lots of great moments for the bass trombone, what would be on the programme?

Fantastic – and tricky – question! I think I’d like it to be in three parts, with Bach, Schutz, and Monteverdi in the first third – Beethoven Missa Solemnis and Berlioz Symphonie fantastique in the middle – and finish with Bruckner and Mahler 9. Obviously the list is endless, but from a sentimental point of view, these pieces mean a lot to me and I have had some of my most formative moments playing them.

What do you enjoy most about playing with the Philharmonia?

The heart-on-the-sleeve commitment that the orchestra plays with, and the most incredible collection of colleagues that I could ask for.

What’s your most memorable moment from a Philharmonia tour?

This is also a hard one to choose. My very first day on tour with Philharmonia was in Madrid, playing The Rite of Spring with Salonen, and we had no prior rehearsal. I remember we didn’t even cover the whole piece in the general rehearsal! It’s fair to say the nerves were pounding, but, I actually remember very little about it, it is all a bit of a blur! I think I most enjoy touring Japan and America, but this season’s Firebird in the Concertgebouw was a very special way to mark the beginning of our 80th anniversary season.

As well as being Principal Bass Trombone, you’re also the President of the Orchestra – in a nutshell, what does that involve?

A lot more than a nutshell! I wear two hats – one as representative of the Orchestra, where I lead the Orchestra Committee as President, and the other as a trustee on the Board of Directors, where I work alongside the Chairperson. It’s a privilege to hold this position, and I am very proud of the work we are doing together.

Which concerts in the Philharmonia’s 80th birthday season are you particularly looking forward to, and why?

I am particularly looking forward to Bruckner 8 with Donald Runnicles. I have never played Bruckner 8, but it was a requirement of my Philharmonia audition, almost 15 years ago when I was 18 years old, and I’ve been looking forward to playing it ever since. In addition, replicating Strauss’s last concert with us, as our season finale with Santtu conducting, will be a special occasion. Strauss’s relationship with the Philharmonia is significant in its history, and some of his greatest hits will be featured. It will be a wonderful way to bring our 80th anniversary season to a close.

These pieces mean a lot to me and I have had some of my most formative moments playing them.

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