Since 1998, the Oxford Philharmonic has given inspirational performances in Oxford, the UK and worldwide. The Orchestra creates unique musical experiences by bringing new and engaging interpretations to well-loved works in the classical repertoire. Its continual search for excellence is underpinned by the uncompromising standards of its Founder and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos, who has shaped the Orchestra’s distinctive sound together with some of the UK’s and Europe’s finest instrumental musicians.

The Oxford Philharmonic works regularly with some of the world’s greatest artists, including Martha Argerich, Maxim Vengerov, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Evgeny Kissin, Sir András Schiff, Nicola Benedetti, Daniel Harding, Sir Stephen Hough, Sir John Rutter and Sir Bryn Terfel.

In addition to the Orchestra’s annual concert season in Oxford, its series of family and chamber concerts and its Piano Festival, the Oxford Philharmonic appears regularly across the UK, including at London’s Barbican Centre, Cadogan Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and St Martin-in-the-Fields. The Orchestra’s international profile, meanwhile, is growing steadily. It has appeared at the Tivoli Festival in Copenhagen and New York’s Carnegie Hall to critical acclaim. In the 2023/24 season, the Orchestra returned to Dubai for six concerts at Dubai Opera before its debut tour of Japan, where it performed nine sold-out concerts across four cities, including Tokyo. A tour of Germany and Austria in the same season saw the Orchestra make its debut at the Musikverein, Vienna and at the Isarphilharmonie, Munich, with Martha Argerich. Future touring plans include Rome in November 2026 with a performance of Monteverdi Vespers, a major tour to Athens, Berlin, Istanbul and Munich with Martha Argerich and Maxim Vengerov in February 2027, and a return to Carnegie Hall in New York in May 2027 performing Beethoven’s ‘Choral’ Symphony with Sir Bryn Terfel among a cast of leading soloists.

2026 saw the launch of Oxford International Opera, a brand-new opera company founded by the Orchestra. With world-renowned bassbaritone Sir Bryn Terfel as Artistic Director and Marios Papadopoulos as Music Director, Oxford
International Opera’s debut was marked by a fully staged production of Puccini’s Tosca at the New Theatre in September 2026. A production of Beethoven’s Fidelio is slated for the 2027/28 season.

2027 marks the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, and the Orchestra’s ‘Oxford Beethoven Festival 2027’ will explore the great composer’s masterpieces, with performances of all the symphonies and piano concertos with Marios Papadopoulos as soloist, the complete piano sonatas, many chamber works, and a ‘Beethoven: Now and Then’ symposium in February 2027 which will bring together some of the world’s leading Beethoven scholars.

Since its founding, the Oxford Philharmonic has been firmly committed to outreach work, with award-winning projects taking music to areas of social and economic disadvantage, hospitals and Special Educational Needs schools. Its community work also includes a series of FUNomusica Family concerts attracting audiences aged 4 to 12 years.

Through its International Academy Programme, the Oxford Philharmonic continues to offer students unparalleled training opportunities and a platform for their work. The Oxford Piano Festival, part of the Oxford Philharmonic’s vision
since the beginning, welcomes piano players and pedagogues, experts and enthusiasts to some of Oxford’s most historic venues. The Orchestra’s Side-by-Side Scheme, Composers’ Workshops and Student Fellowship all provide valuable insights, training and experience to the next generation of talent, giving access to globally distinguished musicians and eminent orchestral members.

The Oxford Philharmonic continues to make a significant contribution to the recording catalogue and recently signed to Signum Classics for a series of releases, beginning with Martines: The Complete Keyboard Works. Previous recordings include Mozart Symphonies conducted by Marios Papadopoulos, The Enlightened Trumpet with Paul Merkelo, A Merton Christmas with the Choir of Merton College, Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting music by Borenstein, Lidström and Shostakovich, Mendelssohn’s arrangement of Handel’s Acis and Galatea, and Haydn’s The Creation with the Choir of New College.

In 2013, the Orchestra and its Music Director were awarded the City of Oxford’s Certificate of Honour. In October 2026, Marios Papadopoulos and Anthi Papadopoulos were presented with Distinguished Friend of Oxford Awards, in
recognition of their contribution to the cultural and educational life of Oxford through their leadership of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra.