The Philharmonia Orchestra has produced Virtual Orchestra: William Tell, an interactive virtual reality experience that puts young people inside the orchestra to perform Rossini's overture. It was made primarily for education, so that schoolchildren can reach the orchestra's resources without the orchestra having to visit every school. A Year 7 pilot has already been run in schools in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.
Participants wear VR headsets and start in a virtual rehearsal studio, where they learn core musical skills. They then step onto the stage of a packed concert hall and join the percussion section to play with the orchestra. A curriculum-linked programme for Key Stage 3, with resources and CPD support for teachers, accompanies the headset experience.
How it was made
The live performance was filmed with an array of Meta series 3D 360 cameras at 12.5k resolution. Audio was recorded and mixed with object-based spatial audio techniques and converted to higher-order Ambisonics, to render the acoustic depth and geometry of the performance space. The Philharmonia describes the work as R&D carried out with percussionist Tom Edwards, Meta Camera and Schallgeber. Sound Connections is working with the orchestra on research around the experience.
The schools pilot
The pilot ran earlier in 2026 with a Year 7 cohort from schools across Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, areas where 75% of children have never attended a classical concert. The Philharmonia's own account counts 13 schools; The Violin Channel reports 12.
Reported figures from the pilot:
- 428 Year 7 children took part.
- 96% said they were now likely to attend a concert as a result of the programme.
- 60% said they felt inspired to learn an instrument.
These are self-reported responses from pupils, not independently measured outcomes.
Funding
An Innovate UK/DCMS Create Growth Programme grant of £99,284 enabled the R&D and the pilot. The Philharmonia was among 272 recipients of the programme in 2025, and the David and Elaine Potter Foundation gave additional support.
