Founded in 1953 and in our 58th season, Queens Symphony Orchestra (QSO) is the borough’s only professional orchestra and the oldest and largest professional arts organization in Queens. QSO is made up of professional, union musicians who also perform on Broadway, with the New York City Ballet, and other freelance orchestras. The orchestra was founded and first conducted by David Katz. Our current Music Director, Constantine Kitsopoulos, is in his fifth season with QSO. Maestro Kitsopoulos is in a rare position in the orchestral world in that he is only the third Music Director in the 58-year history of Queens Symphony Orchestra.
QSO’s vision and mission statements reflect the organization’s priority of service to the culturally diverse members of the Queens community. QSO has several programs that enhance the musical offerings to the borough of Queens, presenting 10 to 20 concerts throughout the year, serving 30,000 residents, including 8,000 youth. QSO serves their diverse audience by creating exciting programming that “crosses over” new and old audiences and ethnic groups to draw them together to one location and concert series. QSO has embarked upon a new strategic artistic plan, combining the various world art forms with the traditional symphonic style to create a new art form entirely that speaks to the heart of the ethnically diverse borough of Queens.
