Schools Concerts

An exciting programme of music based on a theme, presented by a music education specialist and played by the Philharmonia, one of the world’s great orchestras.

INSET teacher training, equipping teachers with the skills to maximise the concert experience for their pupils. Classroom exercises introduce the concert repertoire, as well as developing personal creativity, expression, confidence and group work skills.

An opportunity for children to take part in an interactive audience participation piece with the Philharmonia live in concert.

Accompaying in-school creative workshops designed to prepare children for the concert visit, bringing to life the players, instruments and programme.

Art projects linked to the repertoire, giving pupils the chance to have their work displayed during the concert.

Suitable for all children; as well as mainstream schools, Orchestra Unwrapped concerts are regularly attended by special schools, hospital schools and home educated children. Materials and activities can be tailored as required.

Partnerships with music hubs: enable young instrumentalists to perform side-by-side within the Orchestra during the audience participation piece. Young musicians receive coaching from Philharmonia players in advance.

Click here to access our Orchestra Unwrapped resources

For this year’s theme of ‘Speak Up’, we are excited that the repertoire will include a mix of familiar and unfamiliar pieces, including: Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King (as chosen by students), Night Ferry by Anna Clyne, our Featured Composer, and Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony, the first symphony composed and published by a female American composer. We hope your students will also be excited to hear a recent Disney smash-hit…

We are also happy to be premiering a brand-new audience participation piece for students to sing along to with the orchestra, created by singer/songwriter Emily Barden called ‘Something to Say’.

Our 2022/23 Orchestra Unwrapped concerts are now open for booking.

Orchestra Unwrapped returns to Bedford, London and Leicester at the following dates:

• Bedford, Wednesday 30 November 2022, Bedford Corn Exchange, 1pm
• London, Thursday 16 March 2023, Royal Festival Hall, 1pm
• Leicester, Friday 28 April 2023, De Montfort Hall, 1pm

Book now

Please note: our 2022/23 Orchestra Unwrapped concerts are now fully booked. To be added to our waiting list, please fill out the booking form on this page.

Cost: the cost of participating in Orchestra Unwrapped is £72 inc. VAT per class (approximately 30 children, plus accompanying adults). This includes concert tickets, a place at a teacher INSET session, and access to online resources.

How to book: Booking for our Orchestra Unwrapped concerts is processed through a booking form. Fill out the form to submit your booking request.

What next? Once you have submitted your online booking form, you will receive an automated response acknowledging your request for tickets.

You can expect to receive a response from the Learning & Engagement team within one month to confirm your booking and send you an invoice, if your request is successful.

Please note that your booking is not guaranteed until you have received a booking confirmation and invoice. If you did not receive an automated response please contact the Learning & Engagement team at orchestra.unwrapped@philharmonia.co.uk.

Can I make changes to my booking request once I’ve submitted the form? Yes – if you would like to make any changes please contact the Philharmonia Learning & Engagement team on orchestra.unwrapped@philharmonia.co.uk or call 020 7921 3910.