Conducted by Blake Phillpot, the City Chamber Orchestra brings together a collective of London's postgraduates, undergraduates, and early-career professionals. The orchestra performed for the first time in June 2026, launching with a dual-focused mission: to deliver exceptional performances to a professional standard, and to develop community outreach initiatives for young musicians.

We explore the full depth of the string and symphonic repertoire, programming rarely performed works alongside beloved classics. This approach is designed to offer audiences the chance to discover unique masterpieces and provide our musicians with portfolio experience. As we establish our reputation, we intend to expand from our initial string core into a full symphony orchestra.

We aim to collaborate with schools affected by a decline in music department funding. Through initiatives like interactive workshops, side-by-side pupil mentoring, and free concert tickets for children, we hope to increase instrumental uptake and interest in the performing arts.

Support Us

Help us launch our inaugural season, champion ambitious repertoire, and bring vital music outreach to schools across London. Every donation directly supports our musicians and outreach projects and keeps live music accessible. Visit our crowdfunder page here.