Founded in 1869, in 2019 it received the gold medal from the city of Coimbra in recognition of its cultural relevance and contribution to music education, its commitment to the appreciation and promotion of music, and its active collaboration with the Municipality of Coimbra. Over the course of these 154 years, several generations of musicians have helped to keep the flame for music alive, guided by various conductors and directors. The FUT Music School, founded in the 1960s by Sílvio Rajado (Filho), is the basis for the musical training of most of the Philharmonic’s musicians and has in many cases served as a springboard for several young people who now make music their professional life. Since the beginning of the 20th century, FUT has sought to energise, encourage and develop its musicians, promoting training activities for musical and human development, also opening its doors to external students in a spirit of knowledge sharing. It has organised several Master Classes, taught by renowned teachers, giving new perspectives and work routines to its musicians and opening up new methodologies to future conductors.

After several years of concerts of recognised quality, in 2016, at the invitation of composer Jorge Salgueiro, FUT took part in the premiere of his work ‘O Despertar do Bicho Monstro’ (The Awakening of the Monster) at the opening show of the Grande Auditório de Coimbra – the Convento de São Francisco. Under the direction of conductor João Paulo Fernandes since 2004, FUT accompanies nationally and internationally renowned soloists. The high artistic level presented by FUT in recent years is also highlighted in several editions of the radio programme ‘O Coreto’ on Antena 2, with the reproduction of works recorded live and on CD, selected and presented by editor Jorge Costa Pinto, among a group of elite Portuguese and international bands. In terms of performances abroad, FUT has taken its music, representing the city of Coimbra, to Salamanca (1992), Luxembourg (1998), the Azores (2001), Brazil (with its Big Band – 2001) and Madeira (2003). In 2018, now in its current Symphonic Band format, FUT was selected to participate in the ‘XII Certame Internacional de Bandes de Música – Vila de La Sénia’ in Catalonia, where it won the prestigious 2nd place with its interpretation of the works: ‘Figures Sonores’ by Henk Badings and ‘Lincolnshire Posy’ by Percy Grainger.