The story of the Sydney Symphony is bound to the story of Sydney and its evolution into a great city: cosmopolitan, vibrant and beautiful. The Sydney Symphony was born in 1932, a small ensemble of 24 musicians who played for ABC Radio and made few public appearances. By the middle of the century, the Sydney Symphony was a symbol of Australia’s mature nationhood. Seventy-seven years have seen the Orchestra go from strength to strength under the leadership of brilliant conductors and in collaboration with great artists. The Sydney Symphony has grown into an orchestra of nearly a hundred musicians giving over 200 performances each year to an audience of over 400,000. We’ve been the sound of Sydney for three generations and a leader in Australia’s rich cultural life, igniting and deepening people’s love of symphonic music. In 2009 the Orchestra welcomes its new Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Vladimir Ashkenazy in a season filled with masterpieces of the orchestral repertoire through to an innovative jazz and film series. The Sydney Symphony has something for everyone.