About the orchestra
Peter Wiegold was having lunch with a friend in 2018, he suddenly said, “there should be a new orchestra - it should be called the Third Orchestra!”. The thought was instant. Gradually the significance of the name has became clear.
The Barbican Centre hosted the launch of the orchestra in 2019. It was co-curated by Peter and John Cumming the late lamented director of the EFG London Jazz Festival. It set out with a 360° approach, with musicians from around world traditions, from art, folk, jazz, contemporary and popular backgrounds, all creator/performers, mixing co-creation with improvisation. The first show was called ‘The space between’ and the orchestra played to three sold-out audiences in The Pit at the Barbican.
It devised the show ‘Coastal’ for Turner-Sims, Southampton.
Since then it has presented at ISPA, the International Society for Performing Arts, New York, and opened Classical:NEXT in the Boulez Saal, Berlin collaborating with three other ensembles.
It was born from the crucible of Club Inégales which had hosted over 100 collaborations since 2011.
In 2025 SOAS and SAA-uk hosted their collaboration with Indian ‘indie’ rock band, The Tapi Project.
Their recent show ‘The Healing Circle’ was inspired by a collaboration with Navajo (Diné) trumpeter Delbert Anderson. This premiered Spring 2026 back at SOAS, and for the British Forum for Ethnomusicology annual conference. The venue, Bush House a perfect symbol of T3O’s work, having been the home of the BBC World Service for 100 years. Their motto is, ‘nation shall speak peace unto nation’.
Most recently they have joined an IBC Accelerators project as ‘guinea pigs’ in exploring new technology such as immersive audio, 360° microphones, VR, live streaming and user input, supported by Kings’ College, London and working alongside partners MagicBeans, BBC, ITV, MIT and Shure. All aimed towards more inclusive audience experience.
They are currently part of a Horizon EU bid entitled ‘Music Diplomacy’, with Universities and producers around the world.
We are very grateful to the many supporters and collaborators below:
So, why Third Orchestra?
The first orchestra
Hierarchical, maestro led with fixed roles and fixed scores. A 90° orchestra, composer -conductor - player all have distinct roles.The second orchestra
A collective - a 180° orchestra! Or perhaps a binary place, where artists come as representatives. ‘Classical meets Jazz’…‘East meets West’ 
The Third Orchestra
Here, each artist comes as themselves, with their own individual stories and lineages. Held from the centre, towards an open 360° array,- leadership and co-creation interact, aiming for the autonomy of each individual rather than ‘fusion’.
In the same month the orchestra was launched Peter was asked to examine a PhD by a Chinese composer. She quoted Lao Zhu:
The Tao gives birth to the One
The One gives birth to the Two
The Two gives birth to the Three
The Three gives birth to Everything
REVIEWS/FEEDBACK
Benjamin Zephaniah
“A real united-nations, and a new approach to music. I just love the way that there's so many people who all find their place with so much freedom to play”
“The inspiration of the Third Orchestra is just what we need today: great musicians and great ideas brought together under an all embracing, generous spirited banner, called unity in diversity. A genuine example, for the world.”
Marshall Marcus
“The Healing Circle transcended the boundaries of concert performance. It became a mirror held up to a world marked by political turbulence, cultural dislocation, and the erosion of collective certainties. The voices—at times fragile, at times urgent—seemed to ask a quiet but insistent question: where are we heading?
“This was not merely an impressive work of experimental music, but a profoundly जागृत (awakening) experience—one that left its scholarly audience not comforted, but stirred, unsettled, and acutely aware.”
Dr. Razia Sultanova, Central Asian specialist, Cambridge University
“Absolutely gripping, magical and inspiring performance with Peter Wiegold and an impressive line-up of musicians crossing so many cultures. Taking the spirit of collaboration and co-creation to a whole other level.”
Manus Carey
Director of Performance
Royal Northern College of Music
“I keep thinking about what we had and it feels to me like a religious experience, where the heart, soul and mind feel safe, loving, focused and open.
Life after the Third Orchestra can never be the same again! There has to be more for us!”
Rihab Azar
Oud player with
Third Orchestra
“It was such a privilege to sit and perform with so many dedicated and warm-hearted musicians. There were beautiful and fascinating sounds coming from all directions and I learnt so much about my own instrument by being around you all.”
Colin Alexander
‘Cello player with Third Orchestra
“Not singing from the same hymn sheet but hymning the same song from different sheets.”
Ed Mckeon Producer 3rd Ear
This band can turn on a dime
Will Self
‘The work of Peter Wiegold belongs to the realm of fine art. The arts educate us in beauty’.
Giuseppina Colicci
Italian enthomusicologist
“In this way of working, there is a message for the world.”
Lucy Xiao
pi’pa player with Third Orchestra