Royal Philharmonic Society Information

The RPS - a registered charity - has been at the heart of music for over 200 years, creating opportunities for musicians to excel, and championing the vital role that music plays in all our lives. Through our programme of grants, commissions, professional development and performance opportunities, we help many performers and composers overcome barriers to progress and fulfil their potential. Through the annual RPS Awards - described this year by The Sunday Times as 'the biggest night in UK classical music' - we celebrate musical accomplishments UK-wide and tell a vital story of what music-makers do for the benefit of others. Through RPS Membership and our new talks and events, we aim to cultivate greater pride and curiosity in classical music. Through all our endeavours, we are dedicated to proving classical music's rightful and powerful place in society. Our history dates back to 1813, when a group of musicians set out to build a wider audience for their work and established a series of orchestral concerts in London. The Society's performances attracted world-class artists including Mendelssohn and Wagner, and it commissioned exhilarating new works for an enthusiastic public: most famously, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. In its founding gesture, the Society created a lasting culture. Other orchestras found their footing and their music continues to resound across Britain. Now, the RPS is run by a small, dedicated team in which everyone plays an important role. We are proud of our heritage that we are taking forward in a way that we hope is reflective of the range of people who make classical music today in a diverse, multicultural society.