The Cukurova State Symphony Orchestra (C.S.S.O.), founded after the Turkish Presidency Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul and Izmir State Symphony Orchestras, started to perform with 17 musicians, which was a small cadre at the beginning.

It performed its first concert on January 5, 1992, which is the date of Adana's liberation from the enemies. Later on, more musicians were recruited following various challenging exams and the number of the musicians reached 39.

The C.S.S.O., with the musician support from other Symphony Orchestras, Opera and Ballet Orchestras, Conservatories and that of the Philharmonic Association, has been performing its concerts every week with sacrifice, under challenging circumstances.

The sound and voice of the C.S.S.O. - which successfully promoted our town via tours to Syria, Japan, Cyprus, Germany and provinces such as Ankara, Istanbul, Malatya, Trabzon, Aspendos/Antalya, Diyarbakir, Tarsus, Mersin, Gaziantep, Iskenderun and Antakya- have been heard through CD recording made in Japan and live/non- live performances on local and national TVs like TRT.

Our Orchestra, which meticulously designs its schedule every season, is inviting well-known musicians to the town in order to promote universal polyphonic music to Turkish audience and to let them love and enjoy it more. The orchestra is also hosting interesting events. For instance, Mr Willy Claes, the Secretary General of NATO and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, conducted our orchestra during the first part of the concert on a special occasion. Another striking event is that thanks to the support of Adana 6th Corps of the Ground Forces, the overture of 1812 composed by P.I.Tchaikowsky was performed at the Cukurova University Amphi Theatre, in company with real canon shots.

The C.S.S.O. also gives concerts to 20,000 people-mostly tourists- in Aspendos open air antique theatre in May and September of every year. We are proud of promoting the name of our young orchestra all around the world through such concerts. The C.S.S.O's mission is to continue its concerts in the light of Ataturk's ideals, which give great importance to arts and his motto is ours: "CULTURE IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY".