The Aurora Orchestra’s unique creative approach combines world-class concerts with bold innovations in programming and performance practice. Since its inception in 2005, under the leadership of Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon, it has established itself as one of Europe’s leading chamber orchestras. It has won prestigious awards including three Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards, an ECHO Klassik and a Classical:NEXT Innovation Award.
Aurora has an extraordinary range of collaborations across art forms and musical genres. Artistic partners have included singers Sarah Connolly and Ian Bostridge, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, choreographer Wayne McGregor, ceramicist Edmund de Waal and pop icon Björk.
In recent years, Aurora has further developed its hallmark of playing concerts from memory. It is believed to be the first orchestra in the world to perform entire symphonies in this way – without sheet music on stage. Since 2016, Aurora has been developing its own concert series, »Orchestral Theatre«, which encompasses various musical genres and art forms. The resulting orchestral experiences are transforming the concert format and opening up exciting new ways of experiencing orchestral music for both established and new audiences.
Based in London, Aurora is the resident orchestra at King’s Place and Southbank Centre. The Orchestra also tours the UK and internationally each season.
By challenging perceptions of what an orchestra can and should do on stage, Aurora inspires people of all ages and backgrounds to develop a passion for orchestral music. Through an award-winning creative learning program, Aurora regularly offers workshops and storytelling concerts for families, schools, and youth and children with special needs and disabilities. In 2022, the Orchestra launched Aurora Classroom, a groundbreaking online learning platform for elementary schools. It includes the first feature film for young children and a wide range of resources to support teachers in delivering music activities in the classroom and in special needs settings.