Fantasia Orchestra

Fantasia Orchestra is a UK-based charitable organization registered under charity number 1191335. Founded in 2016 by conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh, the orchestra showcases some of the finest young British classical music talent. Many of its musicians and soloists formed connections at the Royal Academy of Music, where they studied alongside Fetherstonhaugh from 2011 onwards[5].

Mission and Activities

Fantasia Orchestra’s mission is to broaden the reach and accessibility of classical music, with a strong emphasis on education. The orchestra is committed to inspiring young musicians and audiences alike by delivering high-quality performances and educational initiatives[1][5].

The orchestra made a highly acclaimed debut at the 2024 BBC Proms held at the Royal Albert Hall, performing two concerts broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC 4. Their repertoire spans a diverse range of composers and genres from Bartók, Brahms, and Dorak to contemporary artists like Laura Mvula and Piazzolla, highlighting the orchestra’s versatility and commitment to both classical and modern music[1].

Educational Partnership

A central pillar of Fantasia’s ethos is music education. Since 2020, Fantasia Orchestra has been the orchestra-in-residence for the DaCapo Music Foundation, a longstanding music education charity with over 30 years of experience teaching children across London. This partnership enables Fantasia musicians to collaborate closely with young students through workshops, school programs, and community projects[1][4].

Together with the DaCapo Music Foundation, Fantasia has developed innovative educational resources, including DaCapo Online, an inclusive and comprehensive music curriculum designed for primary schools. Fantasia musicians feature prominently in this program, which aims to make music education accessible to children in schools with limited or no music provision. The partnership has also led to live projects such as the Saturday Music Centre, school workshops titled 'Take Note', and co-commissioned performances with other renowned ensembles[4][5].

Notable Collaborations and Performances

Fantasia Orchestra has worked with a distinguished list of soloists, including Martin James Bartlett, Alim Beisembayev, Jess Gillam, Thomas Gould, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Vadym Kholodenko, Jennifer Pike, Laura van der Heijden, and Steven Osborne[5].

Significant performances include the London premiere of Dobrinka Tabakova’s Cello Concerto featuring soloist Laura van der Heijden, and a co-commissioned new arrangement of Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo performed with Sheku Kanneh-Mason as soloist. These projects underscore Fantasia’s role in promoting contemporary classical music alongside traditional repertoire[4][5].

Fantasia Orchestra continues to be a vibrant force in the UK classical music scene, combining artistic excellence with a strong community and educational focus to nurture the next generation of musicians and audiences[1][5].

[1] https://www.musicalchairs.info/company-profile/4847 [2] https://www.fantasiaorchestra.com [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/sector-data/top-10-charities/-/charity-details/5160236/full-print [4] https://www.fantasiaorchestra.com/education [5] https://millenniummagazine.com/music/fantasia-orchestra/