Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra

Among Greece's leading symphonic ensembles, the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra has toured widely and attracted international-caliber soloists. The group has the mission of promoting Greek music but has also performed and recorded music by composers from elsewhere. The Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1959, assuming its current name and status as a government-owned group in 1966. Its founder was composer Solon Michaelides, who also served as its first conductor. As of 2022, Simos Papanas is the conductor, who is also a violinist and had been the orchestra's concertmaster since 2003. The Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra made its recording debut in 2006, backing saxophonist Theodore Kerkezos on the album Impressions for saxophone and orchestra. In 2023, with Zoi Tsokanou as conductor, the orchestra released the album Topos: 20th-Century Greek Orchestral Music.