West Philadelphia Orchestar

West Philadelphia Orchestra is a brass band inspired by the Romani brass "orkestars" and "fanfares" of Eastern Europe. Known for stellar musicianship and dynamic live shows, the band’s sound is large, loud and extremely danceable. WPO began as a village band for their neighborhood in 2006, performing at parks, rocking street festivals and collaborating with community theaters. Over the years of performance and study, their sound has deepened and developed organically, and their current focus is on original music that jumps off from the Balkan music that originally inspired them.

Fronted by Bulgarian-American vocalist Petia Z. the group includes up to 12 of Philadelphia’s finest brass and percussion players. They released their second studio album, Tour de Filly in 2016 and have new material arriving in 2020. You can find them on stages, street corners and wedding celebrations throughout the Philadelphia region, pumping out their combination of Balkan, klezmer, punk and banging beats. With driving percussion, pirouetting tuba, wailing reeds and blaring trumpets, WPO's sound hits hard and lifts the spirits.

WPO has played concerts with legendary Balkan groups like Dzambo Agusevi Orchestra and Fanfare Ciocarlia, collaborated with Martha Graham Cracker, Trisha Brown Dane Company, and RJD2, and headlined shows all around Philadelphia.