Since 1998, the Oxford Philharmonic has brought inspirational performances to Oxford and beyond. The Orchestra prides itself on creating unique musical experiences, 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 with some of the finest international musicians that constitute the Orchestra’s core membership, have shaped the Orchestra’s distinctive sound and performance style.

The Oxford Philharmonic works regularly with some of the world’s greatest classical artists, among them Maxim Vengerov, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Martha Argerich, Sir András Schiff, Evgeny Kissin, Sir John Rutter and Sir Bryn Terfel.

Violinist Maxim Vengerov became the Oxford Philharmonic’s first ever Artist-in-Residence for an unprecedented four seasons. Since then, Vengerov has performed with the Orchestra across the UK and the US and recorded the violin concertos of Brahms and Sibelius, as well as leading an ensemble of OPO Principals in a recording of Mendelssohn’s Octet.

In addition to its annual concert season in Oxford, performances across the UK, Family Concerts, Chamber Music Series and an annual Piano Festival, the Oxford Philharmonic is in growing demand internationally. It appeared at the Tivoli Festival in Copenhagen in 2019 and, in 2022, made its critically acclaimed US debut at Carnegie Hall. In the 2023/24 season, the Orchestra performed six concerts at Dubai Opera and made a debut tour of Japan, performing nine sold-out concerts across four cities, including Tokyo. Other engagements during the Orchestra’s Silver Jubilee year included a tour of Germany and Austria, where the Orchestra made its debut at Musikverein, Vienna and at Isarphilharmonie, Munich with soloist Martha Argerich. The Orchestra’s international engagements continued into the 2024/25 season, highlighted by a return to Carnegie Hall.

In addition to its extensive touring, the Oxford Philharmonic performs regularly at all the major performance venues across London. Notable engagements in the 2024/25 season included sold-out concerts with world-class pianist Martha Argerich at the Barbican Centre and renowned violinist Nigel Kennedy at the Royal Festival Hall.

Since its founding, the Oxford Philharmonic has been firmly committed to outreach work, with projects taking music to areas of social and economic disadvantage, hospitals, Special Educational Needs schools, and partnerships with Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. The Orchestra has won multiple major awards for their outreach work including the Salomon Prize, a joint prize between the Royal Philharmonic Society and Association of British Orchestras, in recognition of the educational initiatives.

The Oxford Philharmonic was appointed Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford in 2002, the first relationship of its kind between a symphony orchestra and a higher education institution. Through its Academy Programme, which has now been expanded nationally and internationally, the Orchestra continues to offer students unparalleled training opportunities from its distinguished members and renowned visiting artists as well as a platform for their work.  

The Oxford Philharmonic has appeared on several recordings including albums of cello concertos by Shostakovich and Solo Cello Mats Lidström on BIS Records, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy; A Merton Christmas with the Choir of Merton College; Haydn’s The Creation with the Choir of New College; the Handel/Mendelssohn Acis and Galatea with Christ Church Cathedral Choir; and works by Nimrod Borenstein for Chandos. The Enlightened Trumpet, a CD by the Orchestra with soloist Paul Merkelo, was released on Sony Classical. In 2023, the Oxford Philharmonic recorded a selection of Mozart’s symphonies on the Platoon label.

The Orchestra and its Music Director were awarded the City of Oxford’s Certificate of Honour in 2013, in recognition of their contribution to education and performance in Oxford.