Philharmonia and Three Choirs partnership

The Philharmonia Orchestra and Three Choirs Festival have announced a three-year partnership, formalising the Philharmonia’s status as Orchestra in Residence at the Festival.

The Philharmonia will perform seven concerts at each Three Choirs Festival, in Hereford (2012), Gloucester (2013) and Worcester (2014). The concerts will feature the Orchestra accompanying the choirs and also in orchestral concerts with leading guest conductors and soloists.

As well as working to realise the Festival’s artistic vision, the Philharmonia will also help the Festival to expand its education programmes, identifying bespoke projects with local community groups each year and developing learning and performance opportunities for talented young musicians.

Paul Hedley, General Manager of the Three Choirs Festival, commented: “The presence in this region of such a prestigious resident London orchestra on an annual basis will have a considerable impact on the long-term musical richness and diversity on offer in all three cities, connecting local audiences with the joy of choral and orchestral music on an even higher cultural plane.” David Whelton, Managing Director of the Philharmonia, calls the Three Choirs Festival "one of the Crown Jewels of British music-making" and says "we look forward enormously to working to bring our many joint ambitions to fruition".