Who we are

Celebrating 100 years of London Chamber Orchestra

Founded by Anthony Bernard in 1921, the London Chamber Orchestra is the UK’s longest standing professional chamber orchestra and will be celebrating the remarkable achievement of reaching its centenary across both 20-21 and 21-22 seasons.

Throughout its 100 years, LCO has enjoyed many successes and become one of the UK’s most compelling and inclusive musical organisations.

The onstage rapport between the musicians is palpable and it is a tremendous thrill to be drawn into a very special and jubilant atmosphere. Orchestra and audience genuinely enjoy each other’s company and the vibrancy of the relationship between the musicians, who are totally committed to giving the performance of a lifetime, is beyond belief.

The stage positively sparkles with joyous pride and lively enthusiasm.

Exploring New Frontiers

LCO are committed to pursuing fresh works and new compositions by regularly commissioning and performing UK premieres by living composers. Previous UK and world premieres include works by Stravinsky, Vaughan Williams, Prokofiev, Hindemith, Poulenc, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, James MacMillan and Freya Waley-Cohen. LCO’s 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons will include new commissions by Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Gabriel Prokofiev, Freya Waley-Cohen and Nicholas Korth, and repeat performances of recent works by Timothy Jackson and Graham Fitkin.

“Everyone on stage seems to be having a whale of a time and this feeds into a performance in which the music sounds new-minted”

The Guardian

Royal Patronage

The Orchestra is privileged to enjoy the Patronage of Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, and performed at the royal wedding in 2011 to two billion people worldwide.