The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1936 as part of the music section of the local Hebrew radio station, “Kol Yerushalayim.” Upon the foundation of the State of Israel it became the house symphony orchestra of the Israel national radio, “Kol Yisrael.” In the following years the orchestra expanded its scope, membership and programmes, becoming an integral part of Israel’s cultural life. Since the 1978 season, Gary Bertini became its Musical Director, bringing about a musical breakthrough, both as concerns the Orchestra’s quality and with respect to the variety and lack of conventionality of its programmes. The orchestra’s programmes include series of symphonic concerts; Television concerts; “Explorations” – a window to modern music, as well as a fully staged opera; a Week of Sacred Music from Jerusalem and “Jerusalem Proms.”