Side by Side: A New Partnership with BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
On Friday 4 July, the next chapter in Chetham’s orchestral story began with a powerful and unforgettable concert at BBC Philharmonic Studios, MediaCityUK. This was no ordinary performance, but the launch of an exciting three-year partnership between Chetham’s School of Music and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, bringing together young musicians and seasoned professionals in a unique side-by-side collaboration.
From now through to 2027, every orchestral student in Chetham’s Middle School and Sixth Form will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside players from one of the UK’s finest orchestras. It’s a bold commitment to hands-on, professional-level music education, and a remarkable opportunity for our students to develop confidence, musicality and ambition in a real-world setting.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh speaking with members of Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
A Royal Audience
We were honoured to welcome a very special audience for this landmark occasion. Our Patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, joined a distinguished group of civic guests including the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester and the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford. Their presence reflected the importance of this partnership as both a musical milestone and a cultural investment in the region’s young talent.
Joint Principal Tom Redmond (l) and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh speaking with Chetham’s percussionists
A Night to Remember
The launch concert, performed by Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra side-by-side with select members of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, featured an ambitious and vibrant programme that matched the scale of the occasion. It opened with Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Hammered Out, a fiercely energetic piece with jazz and funk influences that showcased the full force of the brass and percussion sections.
Next came Roxanna Panufnik’s Alma’s Songs Without Words, a lyrical and emotionally charged work inspired by the poetry of Alma Mahler and performed with great sensitivity by the expanded orchestra.
The evening concluded with a thrilling performance of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture, arranged by Robert Russell Bennett, weaving together some of the opera’s most iconic melodies like “Summertime” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So” in a dazzling orchestral showcase.
All under the baton of conductor Lee Reynolds, the music was delivered with passion and polish, leaving a lasting impression on everyone in the room.
Composer Mark-Anthony Turnage (l) and conductor Lee Reynolds (r)
A Partnership with Deep Roots
This new initiative builds on an already strong relationship between Chetham’s and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. In October 2024, Chetham’s vocal students joined the orchestra to record the colour of all things constant by Cassie Kinoshi, part of the BBC Ten Pieces series. The project, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 from Aviva Studios, also featured Chetham’s Sixth Form horn player Claire Marsden and was performed for an audience of schoolchildren from across Greater Manchester.
Several members of the BBC Philharmonic are themselves Chetham’s alumni, proof of the powerful musical pathway this partnership continues to nurture.
Chetham’s students Lucy York (l) and Rex Zheng (r) performing in the concert
What They Said
“This partnership is everything Chetham’s stands for: excellence, opportunity and collaboration,” said Tom Redmond, Joint Principal and Director of Music at Chetham’s School of Music. “To have our students learning side-by-side with one of the UK’s great orchestras will be transformative for their musical development, confidence, professionalism and ambition. It’s a real statement about what music education can and should be, and highlights what a collaborative city Manchester is for music and the arts.”
Adam Szabo, Director of the BBC Philharmonic, added: “Learning is at the heart of our work at the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and we are thrilled to be developing our creative partnership with the students from Chetham’s School of Music. Working with Chetham’s allows our musicians to share their craft with the next generation, and in turn, be inspired by the talent and dedication of these exceptional students.”
Shirlene Ohara, a Year 13 student at Chetham’s, said: “Playing with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra is kind of nerve-wracking but exciting at the same time. There’s a lot to learn there about music as a career.” Shirlene was Principal Violinist for Hammered Out and will continue her studies in September at the Royal Northern College of Music. Read more about our new Orchestral Pathway with RNCM.
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Looking Ahead
This side-by-side collaboration is far from over. We’re already looking forward to the next performances in February 2026 and July 2027, where new cohorts of students will step into the spotlight to learn, rehearse and perform with the support and mentorship of the BBC Philharmonic’s outstanding musicians.
It’s a rare and powerful model for music education, and we’re proud to be leading the way.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (c), with Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Are you a young orchestral player itching to study at Chetham’s School of Music? Join us for an Open Day or book an Advice Audition. We can’t wait to meet you!
