The Huntingdonshire Philharmonic (widely known as Hunts Phil) has been at the heart of quality music making in Huntingdonshire for half a century. Founded in 1977 by amalgamating Huntingdon Choral and Orchestral Societies, we are one of the largest amateur musical bodies in the region. March 12th 2027 will mark 50 years since our first concert.
Founding conductor Christopher Brown directed the first decades, performing a number of his own choral and orchestral compositions, including the critically acclaimed 1986 cantata Landscapes. In more recent years the choir has been led by Lee Dunleavy and Leanne Singh-Levitt, and the orchestra by Bjorn Bantock and Michael Karcher-Young.
Now under the inspiring leadership of Music Director Dan Watson, ably supported by Choral Conductor Nick Morris, we continue to perform a wide range of orchestral and choral works together and separately. Our members come from a range of backgrounds and you can read more about some of them here.
Highlights of our last 50 years include:
- the first UK performance of Shostakovich’s Suite from Five days – Five nights
- marking the 50th anniversary of Elgar’s death with The Dream of Gerontius in Ely Cathedral
- a tour to Salon-de-Provence in France
- taking part in a massed choir performance of Mahler’s Symphony No.8 at the Royal Albert Hall
- collaborating with St. Ives Choral Society to sing Carmina Burana
We have been thrilled to work with a wide range of brilliant soloists over the years – see details of some of them here.
Want to learn more?
Find out more about joining the orchestra
Find out more about joining the choir
Read about some of our current and past members
Take a look at this year’s concert programme
Go straight to our on-line booking page on Ticketsource.com