Today's orchestra in Britain does not just mean an orchestra that performs concerts.  A vital part of the modern orchestra is working off the stage in various situations in the community.  One British orchestra has gone as far as to describe itself as a 'music development agency' as this better reflects the diversity of work its musicians are involved in.

The UK enjoys a huge variety of orchestras and ensembles, which differ in their size, style, repertoire, location and funding.  The following brief overview of the different groups of orchestras is by no means comprehensive, but gives an idea of the shape of our orchestral profession.  It is useful to remember that although orchestras are often based mainly in one place, many of them have a variety of small residencies and give concerts in other places around the UK, as part of a tour, or separate engagements by festivals and concert promoters.

The orchestras marked * receive annual funding from respective Arts Councils (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales).

- The following are contract orchestras, which means they employ their players on full-time salaries:

• Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra *  based in Poole, residencies across south west
• City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra *  resident in Birmingham
• Hallé *  resident in Manchester
• Northern Sinfonia *  orchestra of The Sage Gateshead
• Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra *  resident in Liverpool
• Royal Scottish National Orchestra *  based in Glasgow, residencies across Scotland
• Ulster Orchestra *  resident in Belfast

- The following all have fixed membership, but are essentially freelance orchestras.  The four London symphony orchestras are self-governing:

• Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra   resident in Brighton
• Guildford Philharmonic    resident in Guildford
• London Philharmonic Orchestra *  resident at the Royal Festival Hall, Glyndebourne during season
• London Symphony Orchestra *  resident at the Barbican
• Milton Keynes City Orchestra  resident in Milton Keynes
• Philharmonia Orchestra *  residencies at the Royal Festival Hall, Bristol, Basingstoke, Bedford, Leicester
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra *   series at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, resident at Cadogan Hall, Fairfield Halls, Northampton, Sydenham

- The following companies have their own orchestras:
The ones marked # employ full time musicians on a contract

• Birmingham Royal Ballet *
• Northern Ballet Theatre *
• Carl Rosa Opera
• Opera North * #
• D'Oyly Carte
• Royal Opera House * #
• English National Ballet *
• Scottish Ballet *
• English National Opera * #
• Scottish Opera * #
• English Touring Opera *
• Welsh National Opera * #
• Glyndebourne Touring Opera *

- The BBC has five orchestras of its own, all on full-time salaries:

• BBC Concert Orchestra   based in London
• BBC National Orchestra of Wales  based in Cardiff (also gets Arts Council of Wales funding)
• BBC Philharmonic    based in Manchester
• BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra  based in Glasgow
• BBC Symphony Orchestra   based in London

- Raymond Gubbay's orchestras were formed to enable him to present his popular classical galas across the country.  They are based on pools of local freelance musicians.

• Dublin and Belfast Concert Orchestra
• Manchester Concert Orchestra
• Johann Strauss Gala Orchestra
• Mozart Festival Orchestra
• London Concert Orchestra
• Scottish Concert Orchestra
• Manchester Chamber Orchestra

- There are a large number of chamber orchestras all over the UK whose work consists of performances, educational and community projects, recordings and tours.  'Project funding' or 'fixed term funding' may be available to them from their Arts Council and some of them receive funding and engagements from Local Authorities.

GENERAL

• Academy of St Martin in the Fields
• The Ambache Ensemble
• Britten Sinfonia *
• Brunel Ensemble
• Chamber Orchestra of Europe
• City of London Sinfonia
• City of Oxford Orchestra
• English Chamber Orchestra
• English Classical Players
• English National Orchestra
• English Sinfonia
• Gabrieli Consort & Players
• Lancashire Sinfonietta
• London Mozart Players 
• London Pro Arte
• Manchester Camerata *
• New London Orchestra
• Northern Chamber Orchestra
• Orchestra da Camera
• Orchestra of the Swan 
• Orchestra of St John's
• Oxford Philomusica
• Scottish Chamber Orchestra *
• Sinfonia Verdi
• Southbank Sinfonia
• ViVA - orchestra of the East Midlands *

PERIOD ENSEMBLES

• Academy of Ancient Music
• English Baroque Soloists
• English Concert
• European Union Baroque Orchestra
• The Hanover Band   
• King's Consort
• London Handel Orchestra
• New Queen's Hall Orchestra 
• Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment *
• Orchestre Révolutionaire et Romantique
• The Orchestra of The Sixteen

CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLES

• Birmingham Contemporary Music Group*
• Composers Ensemble
• London Sinfonietta *
• Nash Ensemble
• Psappha