Nis Symphony Orchestra

Performing Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Petar Stojanovic at a concert held on March 16. 1953, began the history of the Nis Symphony Orchestra, which debuted as the Municipal Symphony Orchestra, led by the conductor Stojan Andric. Ambitions of artists quickly opened the perspective for new musical challenges, so the orchestra achieved its first international collaboration in 1954, with the guest appearance of the Greek pianist Vasso Devetzi. Through systematic work on the development of symphonic and stage music, intensive preparations and rehearsals, together with the choir and soloists, on June 30, 1954, Dr. Ilija Marinkovic performed the opera Traviata for the first time in Nis, and on December 7, 1955, the stage performance of this opera was held at the National Theater. This was followed by the first stage performance of the opera Rigoletto in 1955, and then the operas Maya the Bee, The Maid, Bastien and Bastien, Hero from the Other World, The Barber of Seville, Cavalieria Rusticana…

In 1975, the Nis Symphony Orchestra founded and organized the classical music festival under the name of October Festival, which grew into the traditional musical event of the Nis Music Festival. The orchestra has made successful tours in all major cities of Serbia and abroad, and has also performed at important music festivals: Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Days of Mokranjac, Olympus in Greece, Nis music festivals…

For the great successes in its cultural and artistic mission so far, the Niš Symphony Orchestra has won numerous significant awards and recognitions: The Golden Plaque of the Cultural-Educational Union of Serbia, The Golden Badge of the Yugoslav Choral Festival, the Liberation Award of the City of Niš and the highest recognition of the City of Niš, “January 11” for 2013.

By decree of the President of the Republic of Serbia, on February 10, 2023, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, the Niš Symphony Orchestra was awarded the „Order of Merit of the Third Degree“ for special services to the Republic of Serbia and its citizens in public and cultural activities, especially in the field of musical art.

On the Summer Stage of Nis Fortress, 2 concerts were held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the NSO with soloist Stefan Milenkovic (violin) and a concert celebrating the anniversary of the „3 centuries of Nis Fortress“. Also, for the first time since the foundation of the orchestra, the NSO chamber ensemble performed at the „Ohrid summer“ festival in Ohrid.

In June 2024, on the occasion of World Music Day, a concert was held on the Summer Stage of Nis Fortress in collaboration with the NSO and the RTS Big Band. Also, within the „58th Mokranjac’ days“ in Negotin, after 16 years, the NSO performed with soloist Peter Pejcic (cello) and conductor Zoran Stanisavljevic.