Conductor and Artistic Director: Edward Peak

The Philharmonic Concert Orchestra is a versatile, large ensemble employing experienced professional musicians who play a wide variety of music.  The size of the PCO varies from 25 players for smaller concert halls up to 50 players for outdoor concerts.

The orchestra was formed in 1990 by Edward Peak and Jonathan Thackeray, both members of the Double Bass section of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at the time.  The PCO specialises in presenting evenings of the ‘Popular Classics’ and now has a large number of arrangements of highlights from musicals, operettas and operas in its repertoire.

The orchestra has performed in a wide range of venues in the northern half of the country.  These include the Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), Guildhall (Preston), Grand Theatre (Blackpool), King George’s Hall (Blackburn), Lyceum Theatre (Crewe), Southport Arts Centre, Spa Grand Hall (Scarborough), Liverpool Anglican, Manchester and Blackburn Cathedrals and Corwen Pavillion as well as the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool on several occasions.

Outdoors, they have performed at the Big Top (Albert Dock, Liverpool), Hoghton Tower (near Blackburn) and at Ness Gardens on the Wirral, nine times!

The PCO has appeared regularly with many choirs including Salford Choral Society, Blackburn Music Society and the Liverpool Welsh Choral Union.

Thackeray Music can also supply members of the PCO to back any singer or artiste.