Founded in 1989, the Orchestre National de Bretagne (ONB), is a French symphony orchestra in Brittany, France, that aims to maintain, promote, and develop the region’s musical heritage through tours, festivals, and multimedia productions.
Led by Nicolas Ellis since 2024, the ONB stands out for its French orchestral repertoire, its openness, and its commitment to innovation. Through transformative projects with various regional, national, and international players, the ONB strives to break the boundaries of musical genres, styles, and expression, all while honoring its classical roots.
Each season, the ONB reaches around 60,000 spectators through concerts, tours, and festivals across Brittany and beyond. Under the direction of Canadian conductor Nicolas Ellis, the ONB is known for its commitment to the French orchestral tradition with contemporary innovation. His programs blend classical composers such as Mozart and Beethoven with genre-crossing collaborations and new commissions from composers such as Katia Makdissi-Warren and Alexis Savelief.
The ONB also shares its work digitally through recorded concerts and original podcasts, offering behind-the-scenes insights and spotlights on featured artists.
In addition to the performances, the ONB runs an initiative called “Heading to the Concert”, which, each season, introduces thousands of students to the world of orchestral music. Through pre-concert workshops, visits to concert venues and rehearsals, and opportunities to meet musicians, the program makes symphonic music more accessible to younger audiences.
By supporting the Orchestre National de Bretagne (ONB), you become part of a collective effort to champion musical creation and innovation.
So far, the ONB has commissioned works from Gabriela Ortiz, Benoit Menut, Alexis Savelief, Frédérique Lory, Dai Fujikura, Karl Jenkins, Fiona Monbet, and many others.
Your donations will support the creation of new musical works, the orchestra’s performances, as well as the educational activities related to them.
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