Hangul KBS 교향악단 Revised Romanization KBS Gyohyang Akdan Active from 1956 | Hanja KBS 交響樂團 McCune–Reischauer KBS Kyohyang Akdan Genre Classical | |
 | ||
Record labels Koch Entertainment, Soundset, Soundset Records, Fuga Libera Similar Yoel Levi, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Shin‑ik Hahm, Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, Vakhtang Jordania Profiles | ||
The KBS Symphony Orchestra (KBS 교향악단) is one of the most famous symphony orchestras in South Korea. It was founded in 1956 as the radio orchestra of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).
Contents
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. In 1979, they made their first tour overseas, in 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 in New York City.
In 2000 and 2002, they performed with the State Symphony Orchestra of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Seoul and Pyongyang. They also held "goodwill exchange concerts" with the NHK Symphony Orchestra and the China National Symphony Orchestra in 2002.
They now play chiefly in KBS Hall and the concert hall of the Seoul Arts Center.
Conductors
Principal conductors
Principal guest conductors
Full-time conductor
Conductor Emeritus
Recordings
In 1995, the KBS Symphony Orchestra recorded Alan Hovhaness' Symphonies Nos. 39 and 46 with guitarist Michael Long and conductor Vakhtang Jordania with KOCH International Classics. The recording was nominated for the Grammy Awards and, since then, has become quite famous. The Orchestra has also made numerous recordings with Seoul Records, KBS and other recording companies.