Tracing its roots back to the city’s first professional orchestra in 1924, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic formed in 1988 under the musical direction of Joel Levine with the help of dedicated civic leaders and corporations. In 2018, Alexander Mickelthwate was named the second music director.
Throughout the years, the orchestra has performed a diverse selection of music with many different stars. Guest artists have included Itzhak Perlman, Amy Grant, Yo Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Tony Bennett, Olivia Newton-John, Bebe Neuwirth, Debbie Reynolds and most recently Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara, and Pink Martini.
Throughout its history, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic has maintained a strong commitment to enhancing music education. Through a variety of education programs, the OKCPHIL impacts more than 35,000 individuals annually.