The London City Philharmonic performs Symphonic & Operatic repertoire and is dedicated to provide young musicians and soloists performance opportunities through concerts performances.
In 2019 in collaboration with the London Bel Canto Festival the London City Philharmonic performed Bellini’s Opera Beatrice di Tenda, link here
Alongside the standard classical repertoire, the London City Philharmonic has performed the UK premiere of Fredrik Gran Picture of fields without fences and Branka Popovic Stardust for Viola and String Orchestra, both prize winners of the London Music Society composers competition and also the UK premiere of Fatos Lumani Piano Concerto and the world premiere of Alex McGery Tereza on Petrin Hill for solo violin & string orchestra.
In doing so, the London City Philharmonic supports the musical community by providing performance opportunities to young musicians, promoting contemporary works, and making such works more approachable by complementing them with the standard classical music repertoire that is more familiar to the broader public.
We welcome collaborations with Opera companies and Choral Societies. If you would like to get in touch, please email us at: info@londoncityphilharmonic.co.uk
Olsi Qinami is the Principal Conductor and Music Director of the London City Philharmonic, Conductor at the National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Albania and Professor of Conducting at the University of Arts in Tirana, Albania.
Olsi has collaborated with many orchestras and soloists including soloists from the Vienna Philharmonic and orchestras such as BBC Symphony Orchestra, Opera Hong Kong, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Parnu Festival Orchestra, National Opera of Albania, BBC Singers, National Opera of North Macedonia, Athens Philharmonic, Opera de Massy in Paris, London City Orchestra, University of Arts Philharmonic Orchestra of Albania, London Thames Orchestra, The Amadeus and Chorus Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Versailles, Kammerphilharmonie Graz, Orchestra Giovanile di Genova and many others.
In 2015 he was awarded the 2nd prize at the International Conducting Competition with the London Classical Soloists, semifinalist at the 2017 Cadaques Conducting Competition.
Olsi began studying piano at the age of 6 in his native country Albania and studied at the Lycée Artistique “Jordan Misja” in Tirana, and later in the UK with Nigel Clayton professor at the London “Royal College of Music”.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the “Royal Birmingham Conservatoire”, a Bachelor’s Degree in Conducting from the “Academy of Arts in Albania” and also Diplome Superior in Conducting from the “Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris” where he studied with Dominique Rouits.
Olsi continued his studies with Paavo Jarvi at the "Jarvi Conducting Academy", Riccardo Muti at the "Riccardo Muti Opera Academy" with Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini, "Orkney Advanced Conducting Course" with Alexander Vedernikov & Charles Peebles and "the Royal Northern College of Music Advanced Conducting Masterclasses" with Mark Heron. He also studied with, Jorma Panula, Michalis Economou, Marco Guidarini, Howard Williams, Peter Stark, Bujar Llapaj, Neil Thomson and others.
Penny James Orchestra Concertmaster.
Penny graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and is now the leader of the London City Philharmonic and the deputy leader of the Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra.
She is a very passionate orchestral violinist and has played with many ensembles including the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra in Finland, the Docklands Sinfonia, the Hornton Chamber Orchestra, the London Euphonia Orchestra, the Philharmonia Britannica, the GoodenSemble and currently leads the second violins in the London Incidental Orchestra. She has played under the batons of Sakari Oramo, Jessica Cottis, Roy Goodman, Gerry Cornelius and Diego Masson to name but a few.
As well as pursuing an orchestral career, Penny also dedicates a large portion of her time to teaching violin, piano and cello. She currently teaches as a peripatetic teacher with Stretto Music and has worked with organisations including Animate Orchestra, Greenwich Music Hub, Music Maestros, The Future Music Group, Trinity Laban’s Teenies Group and Boppin’ Bunnies.
Penny has been expanding her portfolio career over the past several years and studies with John Crawford and Clare Thompson. In 2016 she went on an Erasmus Exchange to Finland where she studied with Reijo Tunkkari and Kreeta-Maria Kentala.
Previous Concertmaster of London City Philharmonic, Alina Hiltunen.
Finnish-born Alina has been playing the violin since she was five. She held her first solo recital at the age of 14. She took her degree in music education at the North Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Finland under the guidance of Dr. Tapani Yrjola, and studied her Master Degree at the Royal Academy of Music with Diana Cummings and Erich Gruenberg, graduating in 2011.
Alina has attended many masterclasses by famous violinists, such as Jack Liebeck, Hu Kun, Almita Vamos and Rodney Friend. She is a member of FeMusa String Orchestra, London Arte Chamber Orchestra and Collaborative Orchestra, and done successful tours to Oman, Azerbaijan, France, Hong Kong, China and Germany. Alina is currently the first violinist of Konvalia String Quartet, and has worked professionally with the Joensuu City Orchestra in Finland and Ulster Orchestra in Belfast. In 2015 she was a member of the Southbank Sinfonia in London and has continued to work with them on numerous occasions.