Luke Whitehead

Contrabassoon

Principal Contrabassoon

Luke Whitehead is Principal Contrabassoon with the Philharmonia Orchestra. He has been with the Orchestra since 2011. Luke was born in Thorne, South Yorkshire. He took up the bassoon aged fifteen, and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with (among others) Edward Warren, Alan Pendlebury, and Meyrick Alexander, and for the Contrabassoon, Nicholas Lander.

Portrait of Luke Whitehead

Luke has appeared with many orchestras throughout the UK and abroad, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and Scottish Symphony Orchestras, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Hallé, Northern Sinfonia and Scottish Chamber Orchestra, as well as working extensively with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of Opera North.

The Principal Contrabassoon Chair is endowed by David and Penny Stern.

Endowment opportunities at the Philharmonia offer supporters unique access and insights to our players. Find out more here.

Watch a film featuring Luke Whitehead: