The orchestra

 In collaboration with honorary conductor Philippe Herreweghe, emeritus conductor Jaap van Zweden, and renowned guest conductors it performs several concerts each year in prestigious Belgian and international concert venues. From season 2026-2027, Marc Albrecht will assume the role of chief conductor of the orchestra; in 2025-2026, he will already make several appearances as future chief conductor.

Conductors and musicians

Distinctively warm sound

Since its inception in 1955, the orchestra has become synonymous with the sound of Antwerp, a city of diamonds and fashion, and its world-class port. The orchestra, which has cooperated with Philippe Herreweghe for many years, combines a historically informed performance practice with a solid orchestral sound, that was further developed under the supervision of chief conductors such as Jaap van Zweden, Edo De Waart, and Elim Chan.

The exceptional acoustic surroundings of the Queen Elisabeth Hall provide the Antwerp Symphony the setting it needs to continue to develop and refine its distinctive warm sound. The varied programme includes Baroque music and romanticism, as well as more contemporary works, paying special attention to Flemish musical heritage and the symphonic repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries. The orchestra works with world-renowned soloists and conductors to achieve this mission.

Flanders Ambassador

Thanks to its own concert series at the Concertgebouw (Bruges), Muziekcentrum De Bijloke (Ghent), and Bozar (Brussels), the orchestra holds a unique position in Flanders. As a Cultural Ambassador of Flanders, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra is also structurally anchored on the international stage. Each season, the orchestra is a guest at several major concert venues in neighbouring countries. Furthermore, it organises an international tour every year, with recent visits to Romania, Austria, Germany, Spain, and the Baltic states. In the spring of 2027, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra will return to Spain for a tour including concerts in Barcelona, Zaragoza, and Madrid.

With its home base in the Queen Elisabeth Hall, the orchestra consolidates Antwerp’s international reputation as a concert city and a city of culture. Since 2017, the orchestra has hosted several leading international orchestras in its Antwerp residence, such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Wiener Philharmoniker, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, among others.

The Antwerp Symphony Orchestra regularly records music for renowned classical labels, focussing primarily on grand symphonic classics, music of its own heritage, and contemporary classical music.

Education

Besides its regular concerts, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra continues to develop its extensive range of educational and social projects, with which the orchestra takes children, young adults, and people from diverse backgrounds, on a journey through the world of symphonic sound. Both within and outside of the school context, children, young people, and adults can participate in a wide range of arts education activities. These projects contribute to the orchestra’s unique position on the Belgian cultural landscape, as the first orchestra to tailor its activities to focus on the broad impact of classical music. A particular focus is placed on nurturing young talent, allowing (very) young musicians to develop within the Youth Orchestra Flanders or the Antwerps Jeugdorkest. Through the Baron Swerts Academy, the orchestra offers invaluable experience to emerging orchestral talent.

Breaking down barriers: outreach

The orchestra complements its educational programme with a unique outreach ambition, actively working to dismantle the barriers that hinder concert attendance, particularly for children in vulnerable situations in Antwerp.

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra Mobiel

With Antwerp Symphony Orchestra Mobiel, the orchestra brings music to those who are unable to visit the concert hall themselves. For one full week, the orchestra performs at care homes, hospitals, psychiatric institutions, prisons, and reception centres. Led by Steven Verhaert (who, in addition to conducting, is a trumpeter with the orchestra), a compact ensemble performs an accessible programme that truly resonates with the audience. For visitors, staff, and musicians alike, these concerts are invariably an artistic and emotional triumph.

Doe Maar Mee

The orchestra also launched ‘Doe Maar Mee’, a pioneering concept specifically designed for those who face barriers when attending traditional concerts. It offers an inclusive concert experience for anyone wishing to enjoy classical music in a different way. It is well-established that music and movement have a positive impact on mental well-being—and everyone deserves to reap those rewards. For this initiative, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and conductor Olivier Robe collaborate with Andrew Greenwood, who developed a method where classical music and movement converge in a multisensory, immersive experience.

Mission and vision

The Antwerp Symphony Orchestra is a professional art institution, which strives to move and inspire the broadest possible audience with concert experiences of the highest quality. The orchestra is the leading symphony orchestra of Flanders and Belgium, performing concerts in the Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp – its home base – as well as in prestigious Belgian and international concert venues. The Antwerp Symphony is also responsible for the programming of all classical concerts in the Queen Elisabeth Hall.

More about our mission and vision