The Symphony Orchestra of the State of São Paulo is considered today the most outstanding orchestra in Latin America, giving more than 130 concerts during its annual season. It was founded by Maestro Sousa Lima in 1954. After the Italian Bruno Roccela, the orchestra was conducted by Eleazar de Carvalho for 24 years, until 1996. Under the direction of John Neschling since 1997, the orchestra has gone through changes leading to a high standard of quality and excellence in the fields of music, culture and education in Brazil. With the support of the State Government, Neschling created the Maestro Eleazar de Carvalho Musical Documentation Centre, a subscription series, a coordination of educational programmes, a volunteer group, a music publishing company, Criadores do Brasil, and initiated a partnership with the Swedish recording company BIS to launch more than 20 CDs. Up to now, 6 CDs have been issued, one with some of the Bachianas Brasileiras by Villa-Lobos, others with the symphonies by Camargo Guarnieri, Francisco Braga’s opera Jupyra and works by Francisco Mignone. In 2005 the orchestra was joined by choruses (mixed, chamber, children’s and young persons’). Following tours through Latin America (2000), the United States (2002) and Europe (2003), the orchestra celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004, with a tour of 15 Brazilian state capitals. In 2005, the First Competition for Orchestral Conductors – the OSESP Prize – was launched. Its second edition, in February this year, was won by Chilean conductor Victor Hugo Toro, who will become the orchestra’s Assistant Conductor for the usual period of 2 years. In 2007, the orchestra will be touring Europe and appear in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Geneva, Zurich, Basel, Berne, Vienna, Warsaw, Cologne and Paris.