With a home in Salford and worldwide recognition, the BBC Philharmonic started life as the 2ZY Orchestra in Manchester in 1922. Ever since, its distinctive energy and character has helped to make the Greater Manchester region both a destination and a hub for world-class talent in orchestral music.?

Along with around 35 free concerts a year at its MediaCityUK studio in Salford and a series of concerts at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, the orchestra broadcasts concerts from venues across the North of England and annually at the BBC Proms. Its performances are broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and available on BBC Sounds. The orchestra also records for the Chandos label and has created a catalogue of over 300 albums. 

The BBC Philharmonic’s Chief Conductor is John Storgårds, with whom the orchestra has held a long and successful association, he joined as Principal Guest Conductor in 2012 and held the position of Chief Guest Conductor between 2018 and 2022.  French conductor Ludovic Morlot is the orchestra’s Associate Artist and in May 2021 young British composer and rising star Tom Coult was announced as Composer in Association.

Championing new music, the BBC Philharmonic has recently given world premieres of works by Tom Coult, David Matthews, Emily Howard, Outi Tarkiainen, Anna Thorvolsdottir, Erland Cooper, Anna Appleby and Robert Laidlow with the scope of the orchestra’s output extending far beyond standard repertoire. In 2020 the BBC Philharmonic entered the UK Top 40 charts with Four Notes: Paul’s Tune and, in February 2022 it released The Musical Story of the Gingerbread Man – a unique musical re-telling of the classic children's tale narrated by BBC Radio 5 Live's Nihal Arthanayake.   

Through all its activities, the BBC Philharmonic is bringing life-changing music experiences to audiences across Greater Manchester, the North of England, the UK and around the world.