Flanders Symphony Orchestra

The Flanders Symphony Orchestra (FSO) has been a fixed value in the Flemish cultural landscape for sixty years. Composed of sixty highly committed and passionate musicians, and led by renowned conductors, The Flanders Symphony Orchestra both commissions and performs new compositions of contemporary music as well as electrifying renditions of the main symphonic repertoire from the classical period onwards.

The Flanders Symphony Orchestra fulfills an exemplary role in creating opportunities for young and talented musicians, composers, soloists and conductors. In addition, the Orchestra makes music from both past and present accessible to as wide and diverse an audience as possible in Flanders and beyond.

The orchestra was founded in 1960 by Dirk Varendonck, also the orchestra’s first conductor. From 1986 onwards the orchestra was conducted by Patrick Peire, Robert Groslot and Fabrice Bollon. The orchestra went through a thorough reformation in the mid-1990s. Principal conductors have included David Angus, Etienne Siebens, Seikyo Kim and Jan Latham-Koenig. As from the concert season 2019-20, the Estionan Kristiina Poska is the new chief conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to the concert series in Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra is a welcome guest at both national and international venues.

Discover our concerts

Our mission and vision

Mission

The Flanders Symphony Orchestra stimulates a diverse and curious audience at home and abroad, with high quality performances of orchestral music from the past and present. The orchestra is flexible and enterprising and functions as a breeding ground for talent and innovation.

Vision

Thanks to its unique orchestral culture, continuous concern for quality, strong collaborations, exciting programming and social anchoring and commitment, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra is one of Belgium's leading orchestras.
FSO is a fixed value in Flanders. From its strong regional operations, with Ghent as its home port, the orchestra is also a welcome guest on international concert stages.
As a flexible and enterprising orchestra, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra reaches a committed audience.
FSO is always on the lookout for the creators and performers of tomorrow, and challenges them to enter into dialogue with the orchestra of the future through sustainable development paths.
 
The Flanders Symphony Orchestra is supported by the Government of Flanders and the City of Ghent (member of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Music Network), and has been the orchestra in residence at Muziekcentrum De Bijloke Ghent since 2017.

Partners

The Flanders Symphony Orchestra is in residence at Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Ghent, and receives support from the Flemish Government and the City of Ghent. 

Get to know Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen

• On our press page, we collected our Elektronic Press Kit, biographies of the orchestra and its chief conductor, and some recent photos.