The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, Saskatoon's professional orchestra, has its beginnings as an amateur orchestra in 1927, and ... its founding as a professional music organization in 1931 with major funding from the Carnegie Institute. Over the years, the orchestra has been under the musical direction of 15 different conductors (now musical directors). It operates under the administration of the non-profit, charitable status Saskatoon Symphony Society. The SSO operates four diverse series of professional performances: the Conexus Pops Series (pop music), the Masters Series (classical), Players' Choice (chamber), and Family Series, as well as "The Core" Series at Paved Arts (new music and multimedia). The Saskatoon Symphony receives major funding from the Canada Council, the Saskatchewan Arts Board, the City of Saskatoon, and Saskatchewan Lotteries, through the Saskatchewan Orchestral Association. It also partners with corporations, national, provincial and local in scope, and private philanthropists on sponsorships for major events and community initiatives, including the SaskTel School Tour. The orchestra currently has a core of ten full-time musicians and employs up to approximately 60 other musicians on a per-service basis. read more