Classical Music in Philadelphia

Looking for something classical to do in Philadelphia? Check out our calendar of events for the latest in classical music performances, lectures, and more!

Introduction

Philadelphia is a city with a long and rich history in classical music. From the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra to the Curtis Institute of Music, the city has produced some of the greatest classical musicians in the world. In recent years, Philadelphia has become a hotbed for new and exciting classical music, with a number of innovative festivals and concert series popping up around town.

If you’re looking to experience the best of what Philadelphia has to offer in classical music, here are some of the city’s top venues and events you won’t want to miss.

The Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the “Big Five” American orchestras, along with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Cleveland Orchestra. The orchestra is based in Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription concerts.

Founded in 1900 by a group of well-known musicians led by conductor Fritz Scheel, the orchestra first gave public performances in late December 1900. The orchestra rose to prominence under conductor Leopold Stokowski from 1936 to 1938 and from 1941 to 1945. Sergiu Comissiona served as Music Director from 1980 to 1988. Wolfgang Sawallisch was Music Director from 1993 to 2003. In May 2012, Yannick Nézet-Séguin became The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 12th Music Director designate, after serving as Principal Guest Conductor for two seasons.

The Philadelphia Orchestra has been recording music since 1917 and currently has more than 500 albums available on various labels. The orchestra has also made several historic live broadcasts on television and radio, including the now legendary NBC broadcast of Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with Arturo Toscanini conducting, which was watched by an estimated 30 million people across the United States.

The Curtis Institute of Music

The Curtis Institute of Music is one of the world’s leading conservatories. It trains and educates exceptionally gifted young musicians for careers as performing artists on the highest professional level.

Founded in 1924, Curtis provides its 169 undergraduate and graduate students with full-tuition scholarships and personalized attention from a faculty renowned for its great performing artists who are themselves prominent teachers. It is among the most selective institutes of higher learning in the United States, with an admissions rate hovering around 4 percent.

Curtis is a pioneer in integrating technology into musician training. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including a computer music lab, electronic music studios, and multimedia classrooms. They perform on some of the world’s finest instruments, many of them gifts or bequests from leading artists.

The Philadelphia Singers

One of Philadelphia’s most celebrated and active choral organizations, The Philadelphia Singers has been a leading voice in the choral world for over four decades. Founded in 1974 by Music Director David Hayes, the 120-voice professional chorus is dedicated to the performance of great choral masterworks and innovative new works for the chorus, as well as to providing a platform for local composers. The Philadelphia Singers performs with many of the region’s leading orchestras and ensembles, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Philly POPS, and The Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is a fine arts school and museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the first and oldest art school and museum in the United States, and is home to a renowned art collection. The museum also offers a variety of public concerts, educational programs, and special events throughout the year.

PAFA was founded in 1805 by painter and scientist Charles Willson Peale, sculptor William Rush, and other artists and citizens dedicated to the arts. The original mission of the Academy was “to promote the Fine Arts in America through instruction and exhibition.” Over the years, PAFA has remained true to its mission while evolving into one of Philadelphia’s leading cultural institutions.

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is located at 128 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia’s historic Center City district. The Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, and Thursday evenings until 9:00 pm. Admission to the museum is free for members, students, and children 18 and under. For more information about PAFA or upcoming events, please visit www.pafa.org or call (215) 972-7600.

The University of the Arts

The University of the Arts, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the nation’s leading comprehensive arts and design universities.

Founded in 1865 as the Philadelphia Musical Academy, and later becoming the first university in America dedicated to the teaching of art, UArts has a long and rich history. The University today is home to more than 1,800 students from across the world enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in music, dance, theater, film & video, visual arts, graphic design and creative business.

The University’s Center City campus comprises seven buildings located within walking distance of one another. Our campus is also just blocks away from world-renowned museums, theaters and other cultural attractions.

The Settlement Music School

The Settlement Music School is a community music school in Philadelphia with locations throughout the city and its suburbs. The school offers classes and private instruction in a wide range of instruments, as well as music theory, composition, and ensembles. The Settlement Music School has been serving the Philadelphia community for over 100 years, making it one of the oldest community music schools in the country.

The Settlement Music School provides an opportunity for everyone in the community to learn about and enjoy classical music. The school offers affordable tuition, scholarships, and financial aid to make sure that everyone has the chance to study music.

Conclusion

In conclusion, classical music in Philadelphia is a thriving and vibrant art form that is enjoyed by many people. There are a variety of different classical music organizations and venues in Philadelphia, and the city has a long history of classical music performance. If you are interested in attending a classical music performance in Philadelphia, there are many different options available to you.