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City Of Birminham Symphony Orchestra The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1920 and gave its first performance in Birmingham Town Hall under Sir Edward Elgar. In 1980, the 25 year old Simon Rattle was appointed Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of the CBSO. Sir Simon relinquishes the position of Music Director in the summer of 1998 though he will continue to work regularly with the CBSO.
Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra gave its inaugural concert on October 22, 1881, and has continued to uphold the vision of its founder, the philanthropist, Civil War veteran, and amateur musician Henry Lee Higginson, for more than a century. Under the leadership of Seiji Ozawa, its music director since 1973, the Boston Symphony Orchestra has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, South America, and China,and reaches audiences numbering in the millions through its performances on radio, television, and recordings.



The Boston Pops concerts are performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra, which is composed of members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (except for twelve of the principal players,who tour during the Pops season as the Boston Symphony Chamber Players), and by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, made up of other Boston-based musicians. Both orchestras represent the city of Boston on tour.
The Cleveland Orchestra, one of the last American major symphony orchestras to be created, was founded in 1918 by Cleveland music patron Adella Prentiss Hughes. The orchestra soon became the primary concern of the Musical Arts Association, which had been organised several years earlier to help facilitate the presentation of concerts by visiting ensembles.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra traces its beginnings to May 22, 1900, when a 40 member ensemble called the Dallas Symphony Club performed for the first time in Turner Hall under the direction of German-born conductor Hans Kreissig. Kreissig conducted the Orchestra for five seasons while also helping to finance the organisation. Comparatively, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, and St. Louis were the only cities with permanent orchestras at that time. In 1977, Eduardo Mata was named music director and conductor.
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, directed under Music Director Maestro Zubin Mehta, is one of the most internationally acclaimed orchestra and operatic conductors of our age.

Zubin Mehta has been awarded many international distinctions, including India's prestigious "Order of the Lotus ", Honorary Doctorate Degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Tel Aviv University, and the Weizmann Institute of Science.
London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra is the capital's longest established orchestra and was the first in Britain to be self-governing. Founded in 1904, the Orchestra has attracted Principal Conductors of the highest international stature, including the great Hans Richter and Artur Nikisch and, latterly, André Previn and Claudio Abbado. Michael Tilson Thomas was Principal Conductor from 1988 and Sir Colin Davis succeeded him in Autumn 1995. The LSO is committed to innovation, access, new work, quality and education. 

The Los Angeles Philharmonic, which celebrates its 77th anniversary during the 1995/96 season, has developed steadily in artistic stature and prominence since its founding in 1919. The brilliant Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen begins his fourth season as music director in October 1995, and the Orchestra awaits its new home in the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
New York Philharmonic On April 7, 1993, The New York Philharmonic performed its 12,000th concert - a milestone unmatchedby any other orchestra in the world. By far the oldest orchestra in America, the Philharmonic celebrated its 150th anniversary with its 1992-93 season. Under the influence of its distinguished Music Directors - including Damrosch, Thomas, Mahler, Furtwangler, Toscanini, Walter, Bernstein, Boulez, Mehta and Masur - the Philharmonic has played a leading role in American musical life, and has maintained a tradition of musical excellence since its founding in 1842.

Under the leadership of Kurt Masur, its Music Director since 1991, the Philharmonic has launched a series of new initiatives including Rush Hour Concerts, Casual Saturdays, Composer Week, Conductor Debut Week, Children's Promenades and Philharmonic Forums.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the country's leading performing arts organisation and as such attracts prominent international artists and conductors. Based in Wellington and performing regularly in centres throughout New Zealand, its 50,000 kms 'on the road' each year make it one of the world's most travelled orchestras.

The NZSO was formed in 1946 when the call for a professional New Zealand orchestra was an important factor during the country's post-World War II nation-building period. Today New Zealanders can boast an orchestra of international standard, achieved through association with excellence in professional partnerships with many of the world's leading musicians.
The Utah SymphonyThe Utah Symphony's first season consisted of five concerts performed by 52 part-time musicians. The year was 1940 and the orchestra had emerged from the Utah State Sinfonietta, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) ensemble created in 1935. The orchestra now has 83 musicians and plays year round, presenting more than 250 performances annually.

Music Director Laureate Maurice Abravanel is credited with guiding the Utah Symphony from relative obscurity to national and international prominence. His 32 years as music director starting in 1947 are legendary not only for the Utah Symphony, but also for musicians around the world.