Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (TMSO)

Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (TMSO) was formed in 1965, with Heinz Hofmann as its first Permanent Conductor, as a part of a cultural promotion project of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to mark the Tokyo Olympic Games. Since then, the orchestra has grown to become one of Japan's foremost professional orchestras under the music directorship of such renowned conductors as Tadashi Mori, Akeo Watanabe, Hiroshi Wakasugi. Gary Bertini, who assumed the position of the fourth Music Director in 1998, established a new era with high reputation but passed away in March 2005.
2005-2008, James DePreist was appointed Permanent Conductor.
In April 2008, Eliahu Inbal and Kazuhiro Koizumi assumed the position of Principal Conductor and Resident Conductor.
The late Gary Bertini is Laureate Conductor, and the late Jean Fournet is Permanent Honorary Conductor. The Solo Concertmaster and Concertmaster leading the orchestra are Tatsuya Yabe and Tomoshige Yamamoto respectively.
TMSO gives subscription concerts in two series annually at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and Suntory Hall, promenade concerts, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space series and other special concerts. In an effort to support Tokyo residents, TMSO organizes joint concerts with teenagers, over 60 school concerts annually and concerts for the handicapped. In addition to the symphony concerts, TMSO regularly performs chamber music concerts at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan foyer as well as being involved in outreach activities visiting welfare facilities and schools.
In 1991, TMSO won the Kyoto Music Award for its ambitious project such as Hiroshi Wakasugi/TMSO Mahler Series. Among its wide range of discographies are Japanese Contemporary Orchestra Works, including Toru Takemitsu series, Mahler series by Hiroshi Wakasugi and Gary Bertini, as well as popular game music "Dragon Quest".
TMSO has won high international acclaim as an orchestra of a cosmopolitan city of Tokyo through its overseas tours in the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe in 1977, Seoul, Korea in 1986, European cities such as London, Berlin, and Paris in 1988, China in 1989, Finland in1990, North America in 1991 and Beijing in 2002.

(As of April 2009)