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Bringing the finest musical talent to the United States of America
With a legacy of musical excellence, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) brings the joy and inspiration of live orchestral music to the United States of America
American Friends of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
As a standard-bearer for musical excellence and inclusivity in the United Kingdom, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is proud of its long relationship with the United States of America (USA).
We first visited the USA in 1950 and have toured the nation regularly since the 1980s. It is a relationship we treasure, which was made manifest in 2022 when we became the first British orchestra to cross the Atlantic to perform in America following the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour was a triumph, ending in a sell-out concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Our work in America is not confined to concerts. We have taken our pioneering education and outreach work to the USA, sharing our research and methodology with American colleagues as part of The Lilia Bloom Music Outreach Program.
The American Friends of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (AFRPO) was established in 1983 and re-born in 2016 to support the Orchestra’s biennial tours to the USA, performances in the intervening years, and our work on outreach in America.
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Moments that shaped AFRPO
American Friends of the RPO
Sharing exceptional orchestral experiences
'The AFRPO has brought me one-of-a kind experiences, new friends and the joy of world class music. From concerts at Carnegie Hall and the new Steinmetz Hall in Orlando to music outreach at the Hershey School, along with the extraordinary Gala at Windsor Castle in the UK, the AFRPO has enriched my life immeasurably.'
James Mead, Treasurer, AFRPO Board
