Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellin

The Medellin Philharmonic Orchestra (Filarmed) is a professional orchestra with a 35-year-old history. Its primary purpose is to transform territories and communities nationally and internationally by making symphonic music approachable and accessible to all. Guided by four axes –circulation, appropriation, education, and entrepreneurship- Filarmed democratizes symphonic music and fosters growth, strengthening and capacity-building for everyone involved in music in the city and throughout the region.

Because of this, the orchestra combines traditional orchestral repertoire of different periods with symphonic versions of popular music as part of its social appropriation strategy. Therefore, in addition to having performed the most important cycles of Romantic music –Mahler and Bruckner in particular- the Medellin Philharmonic has ventured into symphonic collaborations with artists such as Puerto Candelaria, Omara Portuondo, Choq Quib Town and Ariel Ardit, among others. Additionally, it has stood out for venturing into audiovisual productions such as Pixar in Concert, in partnership with the Disney Foundation, and the documentary, Colombia Magia Salvaje.

Important soloists such as Lang Lang, Evelyn Glennie and Martin Grubinger have shared the stage with Filarmed over the years, performing important and technically demanding Works. Among its guest conductors, it’s worth highlighting collaborations with Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Krystoph Penderecki and Roberto González-Monjas.

The Medellín Philharmonic is well-known for being a young orchestra. It has become a launchpad for local musicians that have been a part of the multiple local and national music education programs, who have found in this orchestra their professional path, and a means to become leaders in the city’s musical ecosystem.

In 2002, Filarmed was declared part of the city’s cultural heritage by the Medellín City Council and Municipal Administration and has received countless recognitions and awards from the Ministry of Culture, and the offices of the Governor and Mayor.

In 2016, the orchestra was nominated for a Latin Grammy award for Best Tango Album with the record Gardel Sinfónico, a symphonic collaboration with Argentinian artist Ariel Ardit.

For the upcoming 2019 Season, the Medellin Philharmonic plans a series of concerts featuring the work of the world’s leading orchestras, bringing as guest soloists the principals of the London Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, Chicago Symphony, and Vienna Symphony, among others.