National Philharmonic at Strathmore

For the defunct British studio orchestra, see National Philharmonic Orchestra.
National Philharmonic
Orchestra
Short nameNatPhil
Former nameMontgomery Chamber Orchestra
Founded1983 (1983)
LocationNorth Bethesda, Maryland
Concert hallMusic Center at Strathmore
Principal conductorPiotr Gajewski
Websitenationalphilharmonic.org

The National Philharmonic (NatPhil) at Strathmore is an orchestra with over fifty professional musicians based at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland. Founded in the mid-1980s as the Montgomery Chamber Orchestra by principal conductor Piotr Gajewski, it became the National Philharmonic in 2003 after merging with the Masterworks Chorus.[1]

Originally based in the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater in Rockville, Maryland, it became the Music Center at Strathmore's ensemble-in-residence when that facility opened in 2005.[2] In 2021, the orchestra began performing at the newly-opened Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia.[3]

The largest and most active orchestra in Montgomery County, Maryland, it gives over thirty performances a year[3] often accompanied by world-renowned guest artists like Brian Ganz, Sarah Chang, and Zuill Bailey,[4][5] or by leading musicians with the elite orchestras in the area, like concertmaster Nurit Bar-Joseph of the National Symphony Orchestra.[6]

The orchestra provides hands-on music instruction for all second-graders in Montgomery County public schools continuing through middle school and high school with opportunities to perform in youth ensembles and master classes. Additionally, concert admission was free to all youths.[7]

The orchestra threatened to close in July 2019, citing increased costs and reduced funding from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County,[8] but reorganization and a fundraising effort that brought in $500,000 enabled it to continue operating.[9]

  1. ^ "Piotr Gajewski leads National Philharmonic". Washington Jewish Week. January 27, 2016. Retrieved Jul 17, 2019.
  2. ^ "County Council Considers $400,000 for National Philharmonic". Bethesda Magazine. May 5, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "A Stunning World Premiere at the New Capital One Hall in Tysons". thezebra.org. November 1, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  4. ^ "National Philharmonic at Strathmore". Archived from the original on 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  5. ^ "National Philharmonic: Star-Studded Season Opening". Strathmore.org. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "Music review: National Philharmonic captures spirit". Your Music Supply. January 6, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  7. ^ "National Philharmonic: Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington". cfp-dc.org. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  8. ^ Midgette, Anne (July 16, 2019). "National Philharmonic bows out abruptly". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  9. ^ James, Cordilia. "National Philharmonic to Remain Open with New Leadership After Fundraising Efforts". NBC4 WRC-TV. Retrieved 1 September 2019.