Kira Doherty

BA (Hons), BMus (Hons), MSt (Oxon), PGDipRAM, ARAM Lecturer and Giovanni Puzzi Professor of Horn

No. 2 Horn, Philharmonia Orchestra

Kira Doherty stands at the bottom of a staircase, facing camera

Kira moved to London from Quebec in 2004 to complete her postgraduate studies at the Academy

After graduating in 2006, she enjoyed a varied freelance career before accepting the post of Second Horn in the Philharmonia Orchestra in 2013.

Kira works regularly as a guest with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, the Britten Sinfonia and Isobel Griffiths recording amongst others. She has been a member of the Philharmonia Board of Directors intermittently from 2014 to 2024, holding both the positions of Chair and President of the Board. Since joining the Philharmonia, Kira has also completed two history degrees, one from the Open University (BAHons), and the other from Oxford University (MSt, Kellogg College) focusing on social change in Early Modern England.

Kira holds the Puzzi Professor of Horn position at the Academy and appears regularly as guest teacher and tutor at the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the Royal College of Music, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Kira is an Associate of the Academy (ARAM).

Image credit: Marina Vidor