Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra
The Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra (BPhO) is a Belgian orchestra based in Brussels. The orchestra is intended as a training orchestra to allow young musicians opportunities to perform regularly as part of a large ensemble, in preparation for their professional careers.
The BPhO organises 3 concerts per season, which are now held at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Previously, for 10 years, the orchestra performed at the Théâtre Saint-Michel in Etterbeek. In Brussels, in addition to the Royal Conservatory, the BPhO performs in such venues as the Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels, Flagey and Wolubilis. Elsewhere in Belgium, the BPhO gives concerts in towns such as Beringen, Bruges, Courtrai, Coxijde, Hasselt, Namur, Ostende, and Tournai. The BPhO has made a point of programming Belgian compositions, including works by Dirk Brossé, François Glorieux, Jacques Leduc, Frédéric van Rossum, Didier Van Damme, Jan Van der Roost, Frédéric Devreese, Robert Janssens, Max Vandermaesbrugge, August De Boeck and Marcel Poot.
The BPhO was established in 2002 by Antonio Vilardi, then artistic director of the Théâtre Saint-Michel, Clare Roberts, a French horn player, and Roger Bausier, then a professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Bausier acted as principal conductor of the orchestra until his death in 2012. Since January 2014, David Navarro Turres is the orchestra's principal conductor and artistic adviser.