Simone Young AM
Chief Conductor
Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC
Patron
Founded in 1932 by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra has evolved into one of the world’s finest orchestras as Sydney has become one of the world’s great cities.
Resident at the iconic Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra also performs in venues throughout Sydney and regional New South Wales and tours internationally to Europe, Asia and the USA, earning the orchestra worldwide recognition for artistic excellence.
The orchestra’s first Chief Conductor was Sir Eugene Goossens, appointed in 1947; he was followed by Nicolai Malko, Dean Dixon, Moshe Atzmon, Willem van Otterloo, Louis Fremaux, Sir Charles Mackerras, Zdenek Macal, Stuart Challender AO, Edo de Waart and Gianluigi Gelmetti. Vladimir Ashkenazy was Principal Conductor from 2009 to 2013, followed by David Robertson as Chief Conductor from 2014 to 2019. Australian-born Simone Young AM commenced her role as Chief Conductor in 2022, a year in which the orchestra made its return to a renewed Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s concerts encompass masterpieces from the classical repertoire, music by some of the finest living composers, and collaborations with guest artists from all genres, reflecting the orchestra’s versatility and diverse appeal. Its award-winning education program is central to its commitment to the future of live symphonic music, and the orchestra promotes the work of Australian composers through performances, recordings and its commissioning program.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has a close association with the Sydney International Piano Competition, having performed alongside the competition finalists since 1981.