Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is New Zealand’s full-time professional Metropolitan orchestra, serving the country’s largest and most vibrant city with a comprehensive programme of concerts and education and outreach activities.

In more than 50 mainstage performances annually, the APO presents a full season of symphonic work showcasing many of the world’s finest classical musicians. Recent high-profile soloists include violinists Isabelle Faust and Sarah Chang, pianists Kathryn Stott and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, clarinettist Julian Bliss and trumpeter James Morrison. Leading international artists in 2016 include Vladimir Ashkenazy, violinists Ning Feng and Noah Bendix-Balgley, pianist Cédric Tiberghien and cellists Li-Wei Qin and Julian Steckel.  We are also delighted to welcome back conductors Stephen Layton and Christopher Seaman, among others, to complement the presence of new Music Director Giordano Bellincampi.

The APO is also proud to support both New Zealand Opera and the Royal New Zealand Ballet in their Auckland performances, as well as working in partnership with Auckland Arts Festival and Michael Hill International Violin Competition.

Renowned for its innovation, passion and versatility, the APO collaborates with some of New Zealand’s most inventive artists, and in 2016 the APO performs with New Zealand national treasures the Topp Twins, as well as presenting the Australasian premiere of Final Symphony, a concert of music from the Final Fantasy series of video games.

Through its numerous APO Connecting (education, outreach and community) initiatives the APO offers opportunities to more than 20,000 young people and adults nationwide to participate in music, ranging from hip-hop and rock to contemporary and classical.

100,000 people hear the orchestra live each year, with many thousands more reached through special events, recordings and other media.