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1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Our History
For almost 60 years, the Ulster Orchestra has been at the heart of music-making in Northern Ireland. Throughout the turbulent years of the Troubles, the orchestra performed with devotion, dexterity and courage, offering a much-needed cultural release and allowing music to thrive and flourish against the odds. In its lifetime, it has witnessed momentous social change and navigated economic pressures, emerging as a world-class symphony orchestra, ambitious for its future.
Explore the timeline below to find out more about some milestones in our history. Entries with a document symbol beside them indicate an article on that topic; click on the entry to read it.
This part of the site is a work in progress and more material will be added over time. More information and archive material about the Ulster Orchestra can be found on the website of David Byers, former Chief Executive of the Orchestra, who has also kindly provided material for our own website.
Unless otherwise stated, the text and images in these articles are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
1966–1969
- Prelude – Orchestral music in Northern Ireland before 1966
- September 1966 – The Ulster Orchestra is formed
- 1968 – Sergiu Comissiona appointed Chief Conductor
- 1969 – Edgar Cosma appointed Chief Conductor
- June 1969 – The 'Anti-Proms'
- October 1969 – First UK tour: Newcastle, Darlington, Lancaster and Scotland
1970–1979
- February 1971 – Challenging times and new venues
- 1977 – Bryden ‘Jack’ Thomson appointed Chief Conductor
- June 1979 – Ulster Orchestra makes its recording debut
1980-1989
- 1980 – Ulster Orchestra Society Founded
- May 1981 – The orchestra expands to 55 musicians
- August 1985 – Vernon Handley becomes Chief Conductor
- August 1985 – Ulster Orchestra makes its BBC Proms debut
- April 1986 – First European Tour
- 1989 – Yan Pascal Tortelier becomes Chief Conductor
1990-1999
- 1991 – Korean Tour
- 1992 – US Tour featuring pianists Barry Douglas and Christopher O'Reilly
- 1992 – En Shao becomes Chief Conductor
- 1996 – Dmitry Sitkovetsky becomes Chief Conductor
- January 1997 – Opening of the Waterfront Hall
2000-2009
- 2001 – Thierry Fischer becomes Chief Conductor
- 2007 – Kenneth Montgomery becomes Chief Conductor
2010-2019
- 2011 – JoAnn Falletta becomes Chief Conductor
- 2014 – Rafael Payare becomes Chief Conductor
- 2019 – Daniele Rustioni becomes Chief Conductor
2020-present
- 2022 – Ulster Orchestra move into their new home in Townsend Street, Belfast
- 2024 – Sound Links Block Party celebrates the past, present and future of Townsend Street
- 2026 – Anna Handler becomes Chief Conductor
