The KBS Symphony Orchestra (KBS 교향악단) is a

symphony orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, ...

based in South Korea. The orchestra principally performs in the

KBS Hall KBS Hall is a concert hall in the Korean Broadcasting System headquarters located in Yeouido, Seoul in South Korea. Events ;2012 *ABU TV Song Festival 2012: 14 October ;2018 * Astro: The 2nd ASTROAD TOUR TAR LIGHT 22 And 23 November ;2022 *Golden ...

and the concert hall of the

Seoul Arts Center The Seoul Arts Center, also referred to as SAC, is an arts complex in the Seocho-gu district of Seoul, in South Korea. It consists of five main buildings: the Opera House, with three auditoriums; the Music Hall, with two concert halls; the Han ...

History

The orchestra was founded in 1956 as the

radio orchestra A radio orchestra (or broadcast orchestra) is an orchestra employed by a radio network (and sometimes television networks) in order to provide programming as well as sometimes perform incidental or theme music for various shows on the network. I ...

of the

Korean Broadcasting System The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, ...

(KBS). Between 1969 and 1981, it became a state-run organization, changing its name to the National Symphony Orchestra of Korea. In this period, they performed chiefly in the

National Theater of Korea The National Theater of Korea is a national theatre located in the neighborhood of Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, South Korea. It is the first nationally managed theater in Asia. Affiliation The National Theater of Korea was established in 1950 by ...

. In 1979, they made their first tour overseas, in the USA. From 1981, the orchestra's designation was restored to its former name, and new positions, such as general manager, principal guest conductor and full-time conductor, were established in the organization. Their subsequent overseas tours were in Southeast Asia (1984) and Japan (1985 and 1991). In October 1995, they performed in the

UN General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; french: link=no, Assemblée générale, AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN. Cur ...

in New York City. In 2000 and 2002, the orchestra performed with the

State Symphony Orchestra of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea The State Symphony Orchestra of DPRK (SSO) () is a symphonic orchestra in North Korea and the first classical music ensemble to be established there. History The SSO was established on 8 August 1946 with the name Central Symphony Orchestra. In J ...

in Seoul and Pyongyang. The orchestra also held "goodwill exchange concerts" with the

NHK Symphony Orchestra The is a Japanese broadcast orchestra based in Tokyo. The orchestra gives concerts in several venues, including the NHK Hall, Suntory Hall, and the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. History The orchestra began as the ''New Symphony Orchestra'' ...

and the

China National Symphony Orchestra The China National Symphony Orchestra (; abbreviated CNSO) is China's national orchestra. It was founded as the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China (CPOC) in 1956 under the baton of the conductor Li Delun. In 1996, it was restructured and rena ...

in 2002.

Yoel Levi Yoel Levi (Hebrew: יואל לוי) (born 16 August 1950) is an Israeli musician and conductor. Early life Born in Romania, Levi grew up in Israel. He studied at the Tel Aviv Academy of Music, receiving a Master of Arts degree with distinction. ...

was music director of the orchestra from 2014 to 2019. In May 2021, the orchestra announced the appointment of

Pietari Inkinen Pietari Inkinen (born 29 April 1980, Kouvola, Finland) is a Finnish violinist and conductor. Biography Inkinen began violin and piano studies at age 4. As a youth, he also performed in a rock band. He attended the Sibelius Academy and grad ...

as its next chief conductor and music director, effective January 2022, with an initial contract through the end of 2024.

Titled conductors

Chief conductors *

Im Won-sik Im Won-sik (; June 24, 1919 – August 26, 2002) was a Korean conductor, composer, and musical pedagogue. According to his obituary in the ''Asahi Shimbun'', Im was the "father of the Korean classical music world"; he has also been referred to as ...

(1956–1971) * Yeon-Taek Hong (1971–1981) * Gyeong-Su Won (1986–1988) *

Othmar Mága Othmar Mága (30 June 1929 – 28 January 2020) was a German conductor, who was chief conductor internationally, including the Odense Symphony Orchestra in Denmark and the KBS Symphony Orchestra in Korea. Among his many recordings are several rar ...

(1992–1996) * Myung-Whun Chung (1998) *

Dmitri Kitayenko Dmitri Georgievich Kitayenko (also spelled Dmitrij Kitajenko) (born 18 August 1940) is a Soviet and Russian conductor. He was bestowed the title People's Artist of the USSR (1984). He was born in Leningrad, Soviet Union and studied at the Glinka ...

(1999–2004) *

Shinik Hahm Shinik Hahm (born 1958) is a Korean American conductor and a professor in the Practice of Conducting and Music Director of the Yale Philharmonia. Hahm has led North American, South American, European, and Far Eastern orchestras. Recent appear ...

(2010–2012) *

(2014–2019) *

(2022 – present) Principal guest conductors * Walter Gilesen (1982–1984) *

Moshe Atzmon Moshe Atzmon ( he, משה עצמון, born 30 July 1931) is an Israeli conductor. He was born Móse Grószberger in Budapest, and at the age of thirteen he emigrated with his family to Tel Aviv, Israel. He started his musical career on the horn ...

(1990–1992) *

Vakhtang Jordania Vakhtang Jordania ( ka, ვახტანგ ჟორდანია; born 9 December 1943, Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union – 4 October 2005, Broadway, Virginia, United States) was a Georgian conductor. Biography Born in the Soviet repu ...

(1990–1996) * Eun-Seong Park (2000–2002) * Seung Gwak (2004–2006, 2013–) Full-time conductor *Nan-Sae Geum (1981–1992) Conductor Emeritus * Im Won-sik (1998–2002)

Recordings

In 1995, the KBS Symphony Orchestra recorded

Alan Hovhaness Alan Hovhaness (; March 8, 1911 – June 21, 2000) was an United States, American-Armenians, Armenian composer. He was one of the most prolific 20th-century composers, with his official catalog comprising 67 numbered symphonies (surviving manuscr ...

' Symphonies Nos. 39 and 46 with guitarist Michael Long and conductor Vakhtang Jordania with KOCH International Classics. The orchestra has also made numerous recordings with Seoul Records, KBS and other recording companies.

References

External links

Official KBS Symphony Orchestra English-language website

KBS Symphony Orchestra English-language history pagee
Korean Broadcasting System Musical groups established in 1956 South Korean orchestras Radio and television orchestras 1956 establishments in South Korea Music in Seoul {{Orchestra-stub