Founded by David Lloyd-Jones in 1978, The English Northern Philharmonia is the resident orchestra of Opera North, the Leeds-based ensemble that is the only permanent opera company in England outside London. As with a number of distinguished continental orchestras, the ENP not only takes part in all the Company's opera performances but also leads an independent existence as a symphony orchestra. Under its principal conductor, David Lloyd-Jones, and an impressive array of British and international conductors and soloists, it gives some thirty separate concert programmes a year throughout the region and further afield, and already has a wide symphonic and choral repertory.