Open rehearsals for schools
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Open Rehearsals for Schools
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes KS4 and A Level school groups to its studio at MediaCityUK to watch selected rehearsals during our 2025 - 2026 season.
Students will be able to see and hear at very close range how a world-class orchestra prepares for a performance. They will be able to observe the different types of communication between conductor and musicians, and witness the detail that goes into the preparation of the live music.
Students will have the opportunity to chat to some of the musicians before the rehearsal, and in most cases, be able to chat to the conductor after the rehearsal.
Due to greater demand than availability, we will unfortunately not be able to accommodate every school that applies.
Schools will need to:
- Provide their own transport to and from MediaCityUK
- Communicate in a timely manner with the administration team (if you do not reply to emails, we will withdraw the offer and invite a different school in your place)
- Have an appropriate ratio of adults:children
- Ensure that the group is well-behaved and able to concentrate quietly for up to 1 hour and 45 minutes (this is the maximum duration of the session, during which the orchestra will need to concentrate on their rehearsal)
- Agree to the BBC's Safeguarding Guidelines for Visiting Schools which will be sent to you if you are successful in being allocated a rehearsal
- Bring no more than 49 people in total
| DATES - 2026 | TIMES | REPERTOIRE MAY INCLUDE |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 13 January | 09:30 - 11:45 | BOULANGER D'un matin de printemps, SAARIAHO Ciel d'hiver, GREIG In Autumn |
| Thursday 22 January | 09:30 - 11:45 | BOULANGER D'un soir triste, KODÁLY Dances of Galánta, BARTÓK Bluebeard's Castle |
| Thursday 5 February | 09:30 - 11:45 | ROSSINI William Tell: Overture, TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5 |
| Thursday 12 March | 09:30 - 11:45 | WAGNER Tristan und Isolde: Prelude, BAX Tintagel |
| Wednesday 25 March | 09:30 - 11:45 | DEBUSSY Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, MOZART Symphony No. 38 (Prague) |
| Friday 24 April | 09:30 - 11:45 | BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique |
| Wednesday 6 May | 09:30 - 11:45 | BRAHMS Double Concerto (violin and cello), BJARNASON I want to be Alive |
| Wednesday 20 May | 09:30 - 11:45 | STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring |
How to apply
We welcome applications from schools in the Greater Manchester and Blackburn with Darwen Music Hub local authority areas (see list below).
COMPLETE THIS FORMto register your interest in attending an open rehearsal
Local Authority Areas
To be eligible to visit a BBC Philharmonic Open Rehearsal, your school must be in one of the following Local Authority areas:
Bolton
Bury
Blackburn with Darwen
Manchester
Oldham
Rochdale
Salford
Stockport
Tameside
Trafford
Wigan
