History & Repertoire

The story started in June 1881 when a small group of dedicated music lovers gathered at the George Hotel in Hull and proposed the formation of an orchestral music society. With just 27 players, a devoted committee and loyal patrons, the Hull Philharmonic Society was born, and classical music became an integral part of the city's musical culture.

Now the orchestra is comprised of over 80 talented professional and amateur playing members from in and around Hull, with an ever-growing list of players wanting to join who have been inspired by the Hull Philharmonic's reputation for high-quality performances. The orchestra rehearses each Wednesday evening at the Albemarle Music Centre, the collective home of many of Hull's most exciting ensembles.

Over the years, the Hull Philharmonic has performed an exciting array of classic and contemporary works, including Mahler's Symphony No.8, which involved more than 600 musicians and singers and was rewarded with wide critical acclaim; the first ever performance in Hull of Stravinsky's notoriously difficult ballet music, The Rite of Spring, as well as hugely popular film scores from the Wild West to Hogwarts.

These exciting programmes of classic music have been curated by our esteemed history of Musical Directors, starting with the indomitably visionary, the founder of the Proms, Sir Henry Wood. It is now in the masterful hands of Simon Chalk, with his background in strings and wealth of experience in conducting an range of international orchestras, and Dr Elaine King, performer, researcher and senior lecturer in Music at the University of Hull.

With the support of the Hull Philharmonic's Artistic Planning Group, Simon and Elaine continue to plan and deliver season after season of engaging, inspiring and challenging works that put our brilliant playing members through their paces, expose the loyal HPO fanbase to works never before performed in Hull, and cultivate new audiences.