The Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the world’s preeminent orchestras. It strives to share the transformative power of music with the widest possible audience, and to create joy, connection, and excitement through music in the Philadelphia region, across the country, and around the world. Through innovative programming, robust educational initiatives, and commitment to the community, the ensemble is on a path to create an expansive future for classical music, and to further the place of the arts in an open and democratic society. The Kimmel Center, for which the Orchestra serves as the founding resident company, has been the ensemble’s home since 2001. Since 1957, The Philadelphia Orchestra Association has owned the Academy of Music, a National Historic Landmark and the oldest operating opera house in the nation. The Orchestra also performs for Philadelphia audiences during the summer months at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, as well as in venues across the region, including Penn’s Landing, Longwood Gardens, and the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The Philadelphia Orchestra continues the tradition of educational and community engagement for listeners of all ages across the Delaware Valley—a tradition dating back to 1921 when Leopold Stokowski initiated concerts exclusively for children. Through concerts, tours, residencies, and recordings, the Orchestra is also a global ambassador and has a rich history of touring, having first performed outside Philadelphia in the earliest days of its founding. It was the first American orchestra to perform in the People’s Republic of China in 1973, launching a now-five-decade commitment to people-to-people exchange. The Philadelphia Orchestra has long pushed the boundaries of convention in the classical music realm and maintains a strong commitment to collaborations with cultural and community organizations on a regional and national level.