Izmir State Symphonic Orchestra was founded as chamber music group in 1975 by the approval of Culture Minister Nermin Nefçi. Although it was founded as a chamber music group, the group reached to a symphonic orchestra size with an exceptional development in a very short time.
Today, the orchestra is one of the largest art association of our country with its 106 artists and it has reached to an exceptional level where it competes in polyphonic music area with the other orchestras of developed countries.
Since 1975, Izmir State Symphonic Orchestra has been taking an important role in to introduce and endear polyphonic music culture mainly in Agean Region and in Izmir and it toured villages and towns to spread polyphonic music in Anatolia; the orchestra has also participated in international festivals where important tasks were undertaken.
In 1990s, educational concerts towards children was started and thus important steps were taken to create future artists and art lovers by reaching thousands of children; besides, during National Celebrations and Special Days, the orchestra give public concerts corresponding to the spirit of these special days.
Izmir State Symphonic Orchestra, as an important art association of the Republic, has reached to a great success in representing Republic of Turkey with the international concerts given in various countries such as South Korea, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Spain and Japan.
In year 2000, the orchestra made a 22-concert tour along 32 days with its honorary conductor Yoshinao Osawa. During this tour the orchestra recorded a CD in Tokyo and the CD won the Japan Record Award / Best Record Award and was honoured with a “testimonial” given by Japanese Record Awards Selection Committee.
In year 2001 the orchestra made a tour together with the conductor Prof. Rengim Gokmen to Germany within the framework of Izmir-Bremen Sister Cities. In this tour, a concert program, which composed of only the works of Contemporary Turkish Composers, were presented for the first time and a CD was recorded.
In year 2002, Izmir State Symphonic Orchestra has participated in two international festivals (Festival Euro Medıterraneo /Roma - Festival Musıcale Ravello / Napoli) in Italy and has received great appreciation.
The first conductor of Izmir State Symphonic Orchestra, was the state artist and honorary conductor Prof. Hikmet Şimsek. His successors are Micheal Rochat, Iosif Conta and Prof. Rengim Gokmen. Since 2008, the conductor of the orchestra has been Ibrahim Yazici and the deputy conductor has been Ender Sakpinar.