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Founded in 1981, with the hard work of a succession of mayors, including Shui-Te Hsu, Nan-Cheng Su, and Den-Yih Wu, in 1986, KCSO invited former associate conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Henry Mazer to conduct the orchestra. The KCSO experienced steady growth under Mazer’s musicianship and later on underwent further expansion. In 1991, the orchestra was renamed the “Kaohsiung City Experimental Symphony Orchestra”, a change toward a professional orchestra. Violinist, Pang-Hsiang Hsiao became the conductor in 1993, and Shu-Si Chen succeeded as the General Director of the orchestra in 1999. Kaohsiung City Music Center was completed and became the home of the orchestra during Mayor Frank Hsieh’s term in the office in 2000. At the same time, the orchestra was officially named the Kaohsiung City Symphony Orchestra. In July 2007, Hung-Chang Chu was publically selected as the general director of the orchestra; in Jan, 2011, Chih-Chin Yang was chosen as the new conductor for the KCSO.
In April 2009, Mayor Chu Chen merged the Kaohsiung City Symphony Orchestra and the Kaohsiung Chinese Orchestra as the official Kaohsiung City Philharmonic Culture and Arts Foundation to promote its functions. The foundation became publically- owned with Che Shih, the Director General of Cultural Affairs Bureau, as the president. Hopefully, through the combination of the civic involvement in these musical and cultural events, the orchestra can keep its sustaining development. In July 2010, Hung-Chang Chu was appointed by the Kaohsiung City Philharmonic Cultural and Arts Foundation’s committee, as the new Chief Executive of the Arts foundation to be in charge of both the KCSO and KCCO.
For the past few years, the KCSO has collaborated with many world renowned artists and groups, including conductor Zdenek Macal, Erich Kunzel, George Fenton, Chrsitoph Poppen, Chiu-Shen Chen, Tsao Pen, Wen-Pin Chien, Kang-Ming Chen, tenor Jose Carreras, Russell Watson, Hayley, the Canadian soprano- Natalie Choquette, violinist Shlomo Mintz, Ryu Goto, Reiko Watanabe, Akiko Suwanai, Cho-Liang Lin, Nai-Yuan Hu, Xiao- Cao Sha, Keng-Yuen Tseng, Rafael Gintoli and Salvatore Accardo, cellist Mischa Maisky, pianist Fu Tsong, “Genius Pianist” Yundi Li, Alicia Terzian, Lukas Vondracek , Chen Sa, Meng-Chieh Liu, Piano Prodigy- Niu Niu, Jazz pianist Makoto Ozone; The Swedish guitarist of the neo-classical genre- Yngwie Johann Malmsteen. KCSO has also performed with groups such as the Canadian Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the English National Ballet, Ming Hwa Yuan Taiwanese Opera, Taiwan National Choir, Suzho Science & Culture Arts Center’s Ballet, Neo-Classic Dance Company, and Kaohsiung City Ballet. In 2008, the KCSO had toured Nanking, Shanghai, Qingdao, Suzhou and Singapore. In 2008, the KCSO was invited to perform at the inaugural ceremony of the president and vice-president of Taiwan.
Under director Chu’s leadership, the orchestra has been collaborating with diverse groups such as the orchestra performed with Ming Hwa Yuan (A Taiwanese Opera) Arts and Cultural Group for a big production of the "Legend of the White Snake", "Zdenek Macal’s Bravo Maestro", Tan Dun’s "Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon", the joint production of BBC and Discovery’s "Blue Planet", "Warner Brothers’ Bugs Bunny at the Symphony", " On The Road", Makoto Ozone’s George Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue Jazz Concert", "Romeo and Juliet" Ballet with Suzho Science & Culture Arts Center’s Ballet Company, The 50th year anniversary debut of "The Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto" "Love Songs of the Mandarin and Taiwanese" concerts, "Video Games Live Concert", "Messiah", "May Day Band" live concerts etc. Those concerts have drawn a large number of music lovers.
Throughout its seasonal performances, the KCSO also regularly visit area schools and communities to perform indoor/outdoor concerts, chamber and solo works and share their knowledge and enthusiasm for music with students, communities, introducing classical music as a new concert-going experience; and fostered lasting and meaningful relationships between the orchestra and the community. The KCSO has developed its great popularity by its diversified programming and performing styles.
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