As the only professional symphony orchestra in Cyprus today, the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra has evolved rapidly during the new millennium into a modern, dynamic orchestra with a strong presence in the musical life on the island. At the same time, it is a national symbol representing Cyprus in Europe and beyond.
An orchestra for all Cypriots, the CySO presents around 30 different programmes of regular evening concerts, community outreach concerts, educational and family concerts as well as a chamber music concerts, which amount to 80-90 concerts annually, in all cities of Cyprus. The Orchestra performs a variety of musical genres to a constantly expanding and loyal audience, ranging from the great classical masterpieces of all periods, operatic and ballet music to light orchestral music, orchestrated art and folk songs, film music, musicals, jazz, etc.
Constantly striving for artistic excellence and involvement with the community, the CySO puts on innovative artistic programmes, hosts artists of international standing, promotes Cyprus music creation and Cypriot soloists and collaborates with state and private institutions.
Within the promotion of its international profile, the Orchestra has toured numerous times abroad (Greece, Germany, Denmark, Bulgaria, France, Maltam U.K.) has organized international competitions and masterclass, and promotes flashmobs and concert excerpts on the internet and social media. The CySO is in itself a living symbol of multiculturalism, since its 41 members come from 16 different countries!
Outstanding Cypriot and foreign conductors have collaborated with the CySO such as Lukas Karytinos, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Marios Papadopoulos, Miltos Logiadis, Esa Heikkila, Wolfram Christ, Carlos Kalmar, Manuel Hernadez Silva, Doron Salomon, Douglas Boyd, as well as soloists including Cyprien Katsaris, Placido Domingo, Dimitra Theodossiou, Kyros Patsalides, Sergei Nakariakov, Pacho Flores, Dimitris Sgouros, Martino Tirimo, Nicolas Costantinou, Manolis Neophytou, Igor Tchetuev, Anais Gaudemart, Fedor Rudin and Stefan Dohr, amongst others.