The Gunma Symphony Orchestra was established in 1945 in the hope that music would play an important part in raising the spirits of a nation left in a state of devastation after the Second World War. Originally, it started as the “Takasaki Citizens Orchestra” before being renamed the “Gunma Philharmonic Orchestra” the following year – which it held until receiving its current name in 1963.
In 1955, the film “A Fountain of Music” (KOKO-NI-IZUMI-ARI) was made about the Gunma Symphony Orchestra’s story, winning many new fans throughout Japan. The next year Gunma was designated as a “A Musical Model Prefecture,” by the Ministry of Education – the first time for such a designation to be bestowed upon a prefecture. In 1961, The Gunma Music Center was built in Takasaki City with its citizens’ full support, and with this center as its base, the orchestra’s activities widely expanded. The Children’s Outreach Concert Series began in May 1947 and, as of 2009, more than 6,000,000 children and students had been given an opportunity to appreciate the orchestra’s music. As a result of its effort to hold performances in every part of the prefecture, the Gunma Symphony Orchestra(GSO) has become a symbol of culture throughout Gunma and is widely supported by its citizens.
In 1994, the orchestra received invitations to perform in the Prague Spring International Music Festival and in the Vienna Fine Arts Week. This led to a successful four-country tour under the leadership of Music Director Ken Takaseki. The next year, the Gunma Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 50th anniversary with a series of performances of Beethoven Symphonies all over Gunma and in Tokyo. In addition, Toshio Hosokawa was commissioned to compose a 50th anniversary memorial composition for the orchestra. Entitled, “Landscape for Orchestra II,” it was performed in Tokyo and Gunma Prefecture, receiving high acclaim.
Since 2001, the orchestra has been designated as a leader of Japan’s Music World and supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs Government of Japan. In 2003, as the orchestra celebrated its 400th subscription concert, the story of its foundation was featured by “Project X,” a popular documentary of NHK, drawing national attention. Recently, the orchestra has been working hard, continuing its regular subscription concerts, its Outreach Concerts, regional activities and recordings, as well as hands on arts workshops and performances nation-wide in cooperation with the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
In 2005 the orchestra celebrates its 60th anniversary and expectations are high that the GSO will further expand its contribution to the development of music and culture.

Martin Turnovsky: Principal Guest Conductor since 1998
Ryusuke Numajiri: Principal Conductor & Artistic Adviser since 2010
Junichi Hirokami: Friendship Guest Conductor since 2011