Capella Edina is Edinburgh’s Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 2024 by the now 22-year-old German conductor Luis Schmidt as the city’s first resident professional philharmonic orchestra since 1937. Guided by our motto, United by Passion for Music, the orchestra brings together a hand-picked group of brilliantly talented musicians from across the Central Belt of Scotland with a shared commitment to artistic excellence, accessibility, and service.

We seek to make orchestral music welcoming, engaging, and meaningful for audiences from all backgrounds through imaginative programming and approachable performances. In an increasingly fast-paced and uncertain world, Capella Edina believes music can offer something profoundly human – a place of reflection, connection, and renewal. Through our concerts, we aim to provide audiences with a “refuge” from the pressures of everyday life.

Education and outreach form an integral part of our mission. Through partnerships with local Edinburgh schools, the orchestra develops workshops, educational concerts, and participatory projects designed to inspire young people and encourage the next generation of musicians and music lovers alike. We are committed to demonstrating the value of music as a force that transcends social boundaries and enriches both individual lives and the wider community.

Under the leadership of our Director of Music, Luis Schmidt, Capella Edina combines a fresh artistic vision with a deep respect for orchestral tradition. Our repertoire ranges from symphonic masterworks and opera to film music, contemporary works, and innovative concert projects reflecting the orchestra’s desire to connect tradition with new audiences and ideas. This has led to collaborations with folk pianist Amy Laurenson and baritone Arthur Bruce, alongside upcoming performances with oboist Ralf Ebner, violinist Andrea Cicalese, and indie artist Fink.

We are honoured to be supported by distinguished figures from Britain’s musical and cultural life. Our Patron, His Grace the Duke of Hamilton, Hereditary Bearer of the Crown of Scotland, is a longstanding advocate for Scottish cultural heritage and public life. Our Honorary President is the internationally celebrated baritone Sir Thomas Allen CBE, one of the most acclaimed opera singers of his generation, whose extraordinary career has taken him from a mining village in County Durham to the world’s leading opera houses and concert halls.