Institution

The Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the world’s preeminent orchestras. It strives to share the transformative power of music with the widest possible audience, and to create joy, connection, and excitement through music in the Philadelphia region, across the country, and around the world.

As the first American orchestra to perform in the People's Republic of China in 1973 under the legendary conductor Eugene Ormandy, The Philadelphia Orchestra shares a historic relationship with the Chinese people that has continued to develop deep, impactful connections throughout the country to this day. Today, “The Fabulous Philadelphians” have toured and conducted residencies in China more than twelve times, continuing its legacy of people-to-people exchange through music by participating in residency activities ranging from side-by-side concerts to master classes with students.

In 2019, it partnered with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra in a side-by-side concert at Verizon Hall to present its first Lunar New Year concert with tremendous success. That year also marked the Orchestra’s especially vibrant and meaningful tour of China in May 2019, celebrating the 40^thanniversary of official U.S.-China relations. In 2021, the Orchestra again celebrated the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Ox with a celebration concert broadcasted over The Philadelphia Orchestra’s online Digital Stage platform that reached sixteen countries and regions.

Speaker

Matías Tarnopolsky, President & Chief Executive Officer

Matías Tarnopolsky began his role as president and chief executive officer of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association in August 2018.

Highlights of his tenure to date include receiving the largest gift in the Orchestra’s history, launching a visionary free ticket program for the School District of Philadelphia, strengthening the historic and deep ties with China through new partnerships, and negotiating an extraordinary early contract with the musicians of the Orchestra. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tarnopolsky oversaw the Orchestra’s transformation into a digital entity, first with the Virtual Philadelphia Orchestra and then the Digital Stage. He has brought a fresh eye to programming, working with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin to create unique concert experiences, and to further the place of The Philadelphia Orchestra in the communities it serves locally, nationally, and internationally.

In June 2021, The Philadelphia Orchestra Association and Kimmel Center, Inc., announced a historic new partnership, designed to harness the resources of both organizations to create a brighter, more inclusive, innovative cultural future for Philadelphia. Tarnopolsky will lead this new parent company, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc., as president and CEO.